GP surgery complaint

[TankFlyBoss]

Submitted an e consult on 31.1.23 in relation to an ongoing issue I've had quite a few appointments with the GP for over the past 6 months. My request on the e consult was quite simple, asking GP to please prescribe a cream that I have found to be effective.

I received a response from the reception on 1.11.23 to say the request was passed to the GP.

I've still had no response a week later and chased this up again today.

When is it reasonable to consider raising this with the practice manager due to lack of response? Back story is that I don't think the GP have managed this well at all and have been very dismissive over the past few months and not really willing to discuss what I considered to be causing the problem.

If you’ve requested a repeat prescription, surely you just have to go in and collect it. If you’ve had the cream before and it’s sorted out the problem your GP is probably happy to just issue another prescription.
My GP doesn’t contact you if a prescription is repeated you just collect it a day or so later. Or it is sent to your nominated pharmacy for collection.
I use the NHS app to order repeat prescriptions. Unless it has been refused it is an automated system. No notifications are sent.
The only time they contact me is if I have requested a change in dose or an alternative drug.

Unless you have your prescriptions sent directly to a chemist, in which case it may be there.

Thanks. It's not a repeat prescription though. I am asking them to prescribe me some cream that someone recommended I try and I have acquired from an online pharmacy but I don't wish to continue doing this as is 3x cost of NHS prescription

Just because it isn't a repeat doesn't mean it won't have been sent to your usual pharmacy. I work at a doctor's surgery and you have a list of repeats and acute medications. So if I received that request I'd forward it to the doctor and they'd send it straight to the pharmacy, we'd only contact you if the doctor wanted to see or talk to you before issuing it. It probably got done the day you asked for it. I'd call or visit the pharmacy first.

If it's a completely new item never discussed with a doctor or issued previously then it's most likely they'll ask you to make a routine appointment to discuss it first.

I've had non-repeat prescriptions just sent to the chemist for me. I haven't actually had to speak to a doctor to get a prescription for years. I do normally get a text saying they've done that though.

Thank you all. I'll check with the pharmacy and GP surgery tomorrow.