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Original poster

NHS rant alert

52 replies

Yokatsu · 12/08/2018 10:43

Gah!!!

So today i was breathing a sigh if relief of having successfully got to the end one of those stupid busy weeks with stupid complex arrangements and multiple specialist hospital appointments a distance away. Then realised im out of one DS'S medicines. Had completely missed we were down to the last 2 doses. So admittedly this is my fault in the first place but its about the least bad thing that could have gone wrong this week.

Cue very Apologetic to phone call to NHS. They sent the prescription to a pharmacy that not only is quite a distance from us but has none of the medication in and is closed today!!!

2nd phone call to NHS 111. NHS direct only deal with the pharmacy in the next town to us. I live in a sizable town with a couple of big pharmacies open Sunday and a aging population. They have the prescription but can only send it to the closed pharmacy half hours drive away.

They can refer to seadoc. so now Waiting for the phone call anywhen in the next 2 hours.

So now onto at least 3 phone calls and a out of hours dr to deal with something stupidly simple be cause nhs direct can only send a prescription to one specific pharmacy not even in the same town as i live.

Sometimes I really cringe at the waste within the NHS

OP posts:

PurpleWithRed · 12/08/2018 10:48

If you need regular meds I've just signed up to Pharmacy2You who send you stuff through the post. They send you a reminder when they think you're about to run out too. I think they are great and will be sticking with them for repeat prescriptions.

I do have sympathy for you, I know you should have remembered to order, I know we are all supposed to revere the Great God NHS and I know we are hugely lucky to have it and it's brilliant most of the time, but I work in healthcare and some of the admin issues are just barking mad.

Sierra259 · 12/08/2018 10:50

That does sound daft. You'd think if they were only going to deal with one pharmacy in an area, they'd make sure it was a 24hr or extended hours one.

Spam88 · 12/08/2018 10:52

Well it's particularly silly that they only deal with a pharmacy that isn't even open 7 days a week.

Is it something you'd be able to buy an emergency supply of?

m0therofdragons · 12/08/2018 10:56

Did you know that last bank holiday in my region 80 percent of calls to 111 were due to people failing to get prescriptions and running out? I don't have the figures for normal weekends but this isn't what the 111 service is for and your one off mistake is sadly multiplied many times over.

It's not perfect at all but it's a system seriously abused with expectations of instant help in a time when everyone wants something sorted instantly. I'm sorry you're having such a nightmare though. Did you call and check which pharmacy was open before requesting from 111?

JellySlice · 12/08/2018 11:00

That is bizarre. There are 24-h and Sunday-opening pharmacies precisely for this reason. And these pharmacies are registered with all OOH prescribing services.

I've run out of meds when I've been away from home on a Sunday, and the prescription was sent to the nearest duty pharmacy (which, admittedly, wasn't always convenient to get to).

Original poster

Yokatsu · 12/08/2018 11:02

Ive held off internet pharmacies because tried to support the small local pharmacy round the corner for so long, but they've stuffed up the last repeat prescriptions and as this week proved is so easy to miss when there's so much other stuff going on. I think it might well be time to move on...

Yeah actually the above is just the tip of the iceberg. I haven't had a referral thats gone through without a hitch. local therapists claim you don't meet treatment criteria when the national centre whereas excellence are taking you on inpatient with all the additional cost. I'm paying privately for therapy because I cant work out who the NHS are actually treating.

Increasingly I have less and less respect for the NHS. They seem to be fantastic in an emergency and diabolical for any long term or unusual condition

OP posts:

WiseUpJanetWeiss · 12/08/2018 11:05

Any pharmacy can supply a few doses of prescription only medicines to a patient. If you have a copy of the repeat script, take it with you and throw yourself on the mercy of a pharmacist.

Original poster

Yokatsu · 12/08/2018 11:08

Did you know that last bank holiday in my region 80 percent of calls to 111 were due to people failing to get prescriptions and running out?

It really doesn't surprise me. When your dealing with difficult health conditions maybe dementia, and multiple medications, it isnt surprising you miss stuff.

Which is why the system when it does go wrong should be so much more sensible.

OP posts:

Bombardier25966 · 12/08/2018 11:08

I wouldn't be ranting at something that is your fault. Yes, it's annoying, but despite it being your fault they're going out of their way to organise something that works for you and all at no cost. That's amazing.

Think about how much that would cost you in the US.

thenightsky · 12/08/2018 11:09

I tried to sign up for pharmacy 2 you, but my surgery won't deal with them, nor will any other GP surgeries in this area for some reason.

Original poster

Yokatsu · 12/08/2018 11:10

@WiseUpJanetWeiss I did not know that. I do have the reapeat I'll give it a go if I dont have a call soon. Ive already called ahead to check where has it in

OP posts:

BewareOfDragons · 12/08/2018 11:12

The inefficiencies in the NHS are mind boggling ... everyone knows what they are ... but they continue!

SinkGirl · 12/08/2018 11:14

You don’t need to tell me. I posted recently about the fact that my son’s MRI showed up brain damage and his paediatrician didn’t even tell me. Another consultant mentioned it and then immediately dismissed it, no proper discussion. None of the consultants talk to each other, unless something is immediately life threatening they’re incredibly blasé about it. It’s infuriating.

I’ve made mistakes with his medication too at times of high stress. It happens. If you can sign up for deliveries then do it, or set up an alarm reminder on your phone, that’s what I have to do!

JustBeReasonable · 12/08/2018 11:15

This is literally your fault (and entirely avoidable) and you chose to rant at the NHS as a result?

We all make mistakes- I don't blame you there at all. But to complain that the NHS isn't doing a good enough job at fixing your mistake conveniently enough for you is a huge cheek, to be honest.

Original poster

Yokatsu · 12/08/2018 11:17

@Bombardier25966

at no cost?!?! You must be having a laugh

Did you read my second post? Atm my financial contribution to my kids medical care is substantial. Had I relied solely on the NHS my kids would have been mis diagnosised and left untreated.

As it is this was the least expensive for the NHS thing I could have stuffed up this week. My mind was on making sure I didn't stuff up the stuff that would have cost the NHS thousands. Im not perfect.

OP posts:

youarenotkiddingme · 12/08/2018 11:20

Just she's not complaining they can't fix it at her convenience. She's complaining that it can not be fixed because admin systems have failed somewhere meaning her prescription can only go to a closed pharmacy!

FeralBeryl · 12/08/2018 11:25

It's only going to get worse sadly.
The changes in prescription reordering mean that instead of trundling off to the chemist once a month (after a helpful reminder text) to collect meds, we've now got to either go to the doctors, ring the doctors (last appointment took me 146 goes to get through by phone) , or go online every 4 weeks to re order prescriptions.
Fine for people like me, horrendous for anyone with no internet access/savvy, mobility or mental health issues.
I envision a load of befuddled old men going without cardiac medication before long
Sorry you've had a shitty time of late OP

Original poster

Yokatsu · 12/08/2018 11:25

But to complain that the NHS isn't doing a good enough job at fixing your mistake conveniently enough for you is a huge cheek, to be honest.

I've spent way more emotionally and financially correcting mistakes made by the NHS, than the NHS will ever spend correcting correcting my mistakes even with the waste.

This is not an unusual mistake or even an unlikely one. Why it should be a complex one to rectify is beyond me

@SinkGirl heart goes out to you.

Ive had to provide doctor's with test results because hospitals don't talk to each other. Including one i should never have had, but i snapped a copy of it when they gave it to me with a blood test request.

OP posts:

Original poster

Yokatsu · 12/08/2018 11:30

@youarenotkiddingme

Spot on. I would have driven the half hour to the one pharmacy they can deal with without question had they been open and had the prescription in.

But many in my town couldn't, and dementia etc is not uncommon. Missing that a medication is running out is bloody easy to do when you are dealing with ill health and regular life.

OP posts:

GoatYoga · 12/08/2018 11:34

PurpleWithRed - I deal weekly with patients where P2U failed to deliver - they just pass on to the local pharmacy to sort. Rated inadequate by CQC.

What NHS111 were offering was the NHS Urgent Medicines Supply Advanced Service - this is a service that any pharmacy can sign up to (it is usually those that are open long hours - evenings and weekends - as that when the demand is) and allows patients who have run out of medication the option of being referred to a pharmacy for assessment and medication supply if appropriate. You chose not to use this service and have an appointment - I'm not sure what you really have to complain about.

Broussard · 12/08/2018 11:36

You should count yourself lucky you have the service you have. No NHS where I live, DC has daily meds that he can't miss. If I hadn't got the new ones on Friday there is no handy NHS to fax scripts anywhere, closed or open. And they are sorting it out for you anyway.
I would have to drive to A&E, wait several hours to see a dr (with the child in tow), pay for the privilege, drive around trying to find a chemist open on a Sunday and hope they have our uncommon medicine on hand, or keep driving. It would be an all day event with all the children in tow.
I don't see what you have to complain about.

Bombardier25966 · 12/08/2018 11:38

If you think you get so little from the NHS, then why not go entirely private?

No one is expecting you to be perfect, but when you do make a mistake be grateful for the efforts others are making to get the medication to you.

Original poster

Yokatsu · 12/08/2018 11:39

@FeralBeryl

I fear you are very right. One of the medication my son is on is hospital pharmacy only. He's had it for years, makes a big difference to him despite being a miniscule dosage for his age and size. First they changed everyone from liquid to tablet which many kids cant take. They are now on a push to remove children from it entirely, despite the fact it makes a massive difference to children's quality of life. Doesnt matter how much you are on they want you to be on less. Last 6 months we have had to go in for an appointment to reconfirm the need for the medication. To reorder takes two weeks and at least one phone call arguing the need. This was despite the national specialist confirming it was a good thing, he was on it and we were starting another drug which we needed to see the effect and removing the first drug could mask any impact.

I could have screamed

OP posts:

Original poster

Yokatsu · 12/08/2018 11:41

@GoatYoga

I'd have been delighted to use this service but the pharmacy involved was closed and didn't have the very common medication in

OP posts:

GoatYoga · 12/08/2018 11:44

I'm talking about the one in the other town that NHS111 deal with - It is the service outlined above. You either don't have a pharmacy in your area that provides the service or is open - which is why they suggested the other town.

If you have evidence that the medication is prescribed (and it's not a controlled drug) you could ask for an emergency supply at any pharmacy and pay the full cost of the drug plus dispensing fee.

Off to work now - will probably deal with at least half a dozen people that have run out of meds.

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