Repeat ordering from a pharmacy

[OneFrenchEgg]

So I thought they requested the repeat from the GP, ordered the item and had it ready bagged up for when you to get it?

How does it actually work?

Really like to understand what the process is for stuff as it's really frustrating to stand around for an hour / have to come back the next day / they will have it this afternoon but maybe that's how it works?

I would assume that's how it works too! It would need to be something that you already have set up as a repeat prescription. I've never tried it as I don't have anything that I take that regularly that it needs re-ordering within a fixed timescale but our practice has online repeat prescription ordering and from that the scrips get collected by the pharmacy, made up and then the pharmacy sends me a text when it's ready.

i have to take daily tablets which are on a repeat prescription the doctor sets up the repeat with the pharmacy and when i need more tablets mine are bimonthly i just ring them up and ask for my prescription and then go and pick it up a couple of hours later

The pharmacy requests it from the GP - once it's ready to collect you get a text from the pharmacy (at least that's what the Boots chain does)

Your GP needs to send the initial repeat prescription. Then every time you pick it up, you ask the pharmacist to request it again. At least that's how it works for my monthly prescription.

And if you're late picking it up, it will delay the next delivery. Do they offer a text service to let you know when it's in?

What's the local arrangement with GP/pharmacy?
With ours we fill out an online repeat prescription form on GP website when we're running low, it gets authorised by GP and they send on to pharmacy.
We collect from pharmacy at least 3 working days later

Where we are SE UK, you have to put repeat scripts in writing to surgery. Each e script theoretically lasts 6 months. I get a text message from the pharmacy (that I chose) to say my script is ready. However, this week in spite of the fact that the renewal page said my script ran out on 15/1/23 Monday I had just 2 tablets left. Went to the pharmacy, girl said she would contact GP surgery say it was urgent. Got text following day, to say my script was ready,went in, they hadn't got the tablets! Next morning, the script came from the surgery.

Could you get it delivered instead? I do mine through pharmacy 2U and they post it through my letter box. They will leave it in a safe place if it won't fit through. I know the be left mine behind my wheelie bin in a sealed plastic bag to stop it getting wet. To re order my repeat prescription all I do is go onto the App tick what meds I need. They then send the request to my GP who then sends the confirmation back and o get an email saying when it's been confirmed and when it's out for delivery. I started using them because the pharmacy in the Drs takes forever, trying to park in town to pick it up from a different chemist is a nightmare especially in summer and our late night pharmacy is no longer a late night one so I can no longer collect it after work.

I request from my GP on the NHS App. They issue and send it electronically to the chemist. The chemist sends me a text when it is ready for collection.

Well that’s how it should work.

We are a small independent community pharmacy ... what happens with us is ...
Patient requests repeat medication... if they request through us, we then pass that request to their doctor.

Depending on which surgery... some want the paper request, our driver goes once a day at 9.30. Some want email, that is done at lunchtime, and end of day. some have electronic request, done as and when there is time.
Doctors here generally state 2-3 working days to action. Pharmacy get electronic prescription from them. If pharmacy has stock we "put it in a bag" (and check it and file it). If not we order it. If we got the prescription (from the doctor) before 11am, then the stock may be in in the afternoon, if not, then the following day providing it is a 1 day stock line.

So on a good day, you'll get a repeat next day, on an average day 2-3 working days and anywhere near a bank holiday, or if it snows, give it a week.

Most of our regulars give in a repeat 1 week before they need it, most pick up 3-4 days after dropping it in.

We'd have to employ another person to do all the texting/notifying etc that the big pharmacies seem to do.

There are exceptions as always ... the doctor can set up repeat dispensing, so maybe 6 months worth held at the pharmacy, you can ring up, and if stock is in, pick it up later. You can have doset boxes, with medication in weekly packs, ordered by the pharmacy with no need for patient input... etc...etc...

I think it depends on the pharmacy tbh. Around here Boots can have the prescription ten days and yet you still need to wait for them to get it together when you go to collect it but Well pharmacy text you to collect the day after it's ordered and it's always ready if they have sent a text.

Thank you, this is really helpful. The old pharmacy we used just had too many staff changes and closures (small independent) and I gave up in the end, reluctantly. I've moved to a big chain but when I go to collect it each month I always get told it's not in stock/ will be an hour/ to come back tomorrow - it's never waiting on the shelf like the first place.
I need to ask about the text service I think, thank you whoever suggested that.
I did try Pharmacy2U but they weren't able to cope with changes in dose - maybe I need to reinvestivate that as going in to town twice for the same prescription each month is expensive.

I have to phone the pharmacy each month and then they request the prescription from the GP and then I go and collect the items a few days later.

I know the feeling. I have several medicines on repeat and they never have them ready on the day they're issued.

I've taken to going the day after or a few days after because I hate hanging around a pharmacy for ages.

I've tried this recently but they always seem to be taken by surprise! I just thought it would be like ordering from a shop, click and collect style whereas I don't think they 'hold' the items for me?

I tried using Boots who promised that they would order it for me. It never once worked.

I know request a repeat online and pick it up 3 days later at the local pharmacy. This has always worked perfectly - except for the month when the GP was on holiday and forgot to arrange for anyone to check requests.

Yeah it's definitely not foolproof.

The only other thing I can suggest is calling them to say you are heading down so can they have it ready. If you can get anyone to answer the phone. That's occasionally worked for me.

I order it on nhs app from gp uts at the pharmacy ready for collection two days later. However I don't think all GPs/ pharmacies are quite as efficient and it may take longer.

It a very exciting topic but this is really helpful, thank you for posting everyone. I'm going to ask about the text service, and if not I might go back to the online one.

Our GPsurgery uses SystemOnline for repeat prescriptions. I request through that and they send it to a local pharmacy which delivers the next day. Much quicker than any of the chains.

I have 22 items on repeat - I have multiple chronic autoimmune issues - and Boots are the only pharmacy that’s ever got this right for me (and even then I have an occasional issue). And my Boots is a small rural one too. Their text service is really good. I know my huge bag of stuff is ready to go once I get the text.

With my current pharmacy, I request my prescription online from my GP, they send it to the pharmacy once authorised and I get a text when it's ready to collect. It is bagged up waiting for me

I'm sure when I've used Boots they request it on my behalf? I had to sign to autheise this, and every 2 months they'd would request it from my GP and text me when it was ready for collection (again bagged up)

I request my repeats via the NHS app, GP approves and sends to Lloyds direct who message me and I click a link to say I want it then they deliver it to me. Usually a pretty smooth service but timescale depends on how long the GP takes to approve and stock levels with Lloyds.

I can't remember how it was set up and u don't know how they manage it but I pick up my prescription and the pharmacist asks if I want another repeat for next month and I say yes. The pharmacy then sends me a text and it's ready to pick up. I presume they request it from the gp.

I use the app of the local pharmacy, order the prescription, get an update when it is approved and then another one when it is ready to collect.

They also have a locker outside the chemist and they put it in there.

I wonder if the pharmacy approves some things like my diabetes medication because I normally get a text a few hours after I have requested it.

The pharmacy will put the request to the surgery. This will be processed by the prescription clerk or reception. Ie. Prescription generated and sent to gp to be signed. The gp will then sign it and the prescription returned to the pharmacy for them to prepare. Usually this will be done electronically.