Just in case this applies to anyone else on here, I have just visited the usual chemist to register my regular prescription. Normally i would be advised to pick this up the next day. This time however it will be impossible as the shop in question will be closed until next Monday (6 June). This happens to be the day on which my existing consignment runs out. Hopefully I should be able to start off with a new batch on Tuesday, but this is cutting things fine, and I thought I should put out the possible warning to anyone here who might be in the same situation as myself.
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Due to very slow service (pre-ordered repeat prescriptions not even prepared until you get to the front of the queue) at the nearest pharmacy, I recently changed to the pharmacy at the local Tesco. Fortunately, they are operating normal opening hours tomorrow and Friday.Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post -
Are they normally open on a Saturday? If so, why are they not open on Saturday?Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View Post
Now I'm retired, all these bank Holidays really get on my wick!
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I've recently done the same, my previously excellent local chemist has been bought out by a national chain and it's now appalling.Originally posted by Bryn View PostComment
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Can you take the prescription to another pharmacy? They aren't always locked to a particular outlet.Comment
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I see no reason why not; I've done it myself - to a local Tesco one, actually...Originally posted by Dave2002 View PostComment
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That presupposes having a physical copy, surely.Originally posted by ahinton View Post
Mine, for BP pills, is sent automatically to my local pharmacy (Boots), usually about a fortnight before the supply runs out.
Perhaps you could ask for a longer period before issuing the repeat prescription?Comment
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Maybe. Here up in the frozen north I can hardly believe that paper prescriptions are sent around between surgeries and pharmacies - but they are. I've several times had to chase around to find where they have ended up. I think in England there may be electronic transfers - but then the disadvantage as noted is that there isn't a hard copy to take to another pharmacy. If the GP surgery is on top of this issue it might be possible to get a printed one to take to somewhere which is actually able to supply what's required. Worth a phone call, I'd have thought - but some surgeries or GPs are much more helpful than others, in my experience.Originally posted by Pulcinella View PostComment
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Yes, I've noticed that as well!Originally posted by Old Grumpy View PostAre they normally open on a Saturday? If so, why are they not open on Saturday?
Now I'm retired, all these bank Holidays really get on my wick!
I've been told before by my doctor that it's not likely to make much difference to those with a long term condition if a day or two gets missed. Obviously different for anything life-threatening but seems safe enough with the blood pressure or cholesterol pills that I'm on. As long as you resume when able to do so no harm should be done."The sound is the handwriting of the conductor" - Bernard HaitinkComment
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Astonished to find the pharmacy counter at the Dog Kennel Hill branch of Sainsbury's permanently closed on my afternoon visit today, with a notice of "apology" that services would be discontinued from 31 May, and users would from now be required to go online, with an email address appended. This came as a great shock to the elderly lady of 83 behind me in the checkout queue, who told me this was the place where she and many people she knows picked up her regular prescriptions. The usual range of medicaments, ablution and baby care products were still available, but advice no longer. This is one of three large outlets within 4 miles of where I live.
I shall be visiting my local Sainsbury's on the Upper Norwood triangle to find out if this is now policy throughout the network. Fortunately for me my prescription arrangements are at another chemist, though having the in-branch counter to hand has been useful for basics such as bandages and painkillers.Comment
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Was that a Lloyd's Pharmacy? If so, I think it's a nationwide policy - the one at Bell Green closed some time ago, I believe.Comment
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I wonder if the GP surgery(ies) made any effort(assuming they knew) to share this information with their patients? I know that notices aren't always read, but were they even up?Originally posted by Serial_Apologist View PostComment
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Couldn’t you call your Doctors office and ask them to resend it electronically to the new pharmacy? I handle several of these every day at my practice. Patients can also ask the new pharmacy to contact us electronically for the refill. With my current system this creates a problem in that the refill is done in one section of the EHR but there is another section where we are supposed to have pharmacy listed, for new prescriptions, and unless one makes the physical effort to change the pharmacy in this second section, the old pharmacy shows up as the preferred one. This results in prescriptions constantly being sent to the wrong pharmaciesComment
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Not having visited Bell Green - which usually I only do to buy garments - I hadn't realised. My concern is that a squeeze appears to be being exercised on pharmacies from two directions: one, a government impending requirement to take up diagnostic and treatment prescribing transferred from over-strained, understaffed NHS surgeries for which they are not qualified and certainly not salaried; and two, problems for themselves in staff recruitment and retention, which I know well from my own, up to recently, always helpful and welcoming pharmacy. These are businesses, dependent unlike the NHS on making profits.Originally posted by alywin View PostComment
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