Repeat Prescriptions
I have several drugs on repeat prescriptions from my doctor.
Having once been caught out, on Wednesday, I took the form in to get some more. I wanted to pick the actual prescription up at lunchtime today, but it looks like I won’t be able to get it, without a special trip today, until Monday. The surgery is shut on Saturday.
At my previous surgery, I just e-mailed the dispensary and 48 hours later I just went in and picked up the drugs. I could even do that on a Saturday.
It’s not important and I’m not complaining, as I have enough until the end of next week anyway, but it makes me wonder if some of the problems in the NHS are caused by simple procedural problems.
If we had a central drugs database, then on production of suitable identification, I should just be able to walk into any pharmacy and pick up the drugs I need. Obviously, the system would make sure, I wasn’t taking out more drugs than I was entitled too or needed!
One point that should be said, is that I’ve had some drugs on visits to private hospitals. Where the drugs only cost a few pence, they often give you three months supply, rather than the 28 days that seems to be normal in the NHS.
Another is that the repeat prescription form doesn’t say what the drugs are for, so in one case I ticked the wrong box and got the wrong ones.
It strikes me that we could have a much more customer-friendly system, that improved the efficiency of the NHS.
But then I’m not a doctor or a pharmacist, so what do I know about healthcare?
I’m only a patient and our needs are at the bottom of the NHS’s priorities.
The Anonymous Widower 
You should be able to arrange repeat pickups at a pharmacy – I do this for prescription eye drops.
Comment by Marc | May 6, 2011 |
I probably can, but I was using it as an example of how systens could be better. We live in a world of electronic commuications. Some parts of the NHS still believe in carrier pigeons, if it’s anything to go by my experiences of the last three years before I moved here.
I communicate with my bank, solicitor and builder by e-mail, why can’t I contact my GP that way?
Comment by AnonW | May 6, 2011 |
I can communicate with my GP by email, however, I use the Boots service – they collect my prescription from GP, dispense it and they would also deliver but I prefer to go and collect it than wait in for it. One of the generic forms of a painkiller I use doesnt work for me, this system means that they have time to ensure I get one which does work.
One of the reasons drugs are not prescribed and dispensed in larger quantities than a month is that a surprising number have a street value, and people wandering around with 3 months supply, or having that quantity in their homes is a security risk. And if someone’s meds are changed during the three months, the drugs already dispensed are wasted, they cannot be redispensed even if they are unopened and in date.
Quite apart from storage space of course.
Comment by liz | May 6, 2011 |