Waiting time for a prescription

[StepCombatAttack]

I went to the GP on Wednesday and as a result a prescription was sent to the local pharmacy. I went to collect the item and was told it would be five days. Is this normal now? Surely if a prescription is issued it is needed at the time? I know it’s Easter but it still seems a bit off.

It takes absolutely ages between my GP and pharmacy. 5 days would be good for them. That doesn't make it right. It's rediculous.

5 days pretty good here! My surgery texted patients about 10 days ago to remind them to order repeat prescriptions early for Easter so they know there's an issue....

Allow 5-7 working days for repeat prescription
One needed immediately I get on paper and drive around.

You can ask for your prescription to be released then it can be Access at any pharmacy and if they can fill it you can wait and collect.

I’ve been fortunate not to need a prescription for some years. I didn’t think at the time to get a paper one. I thought I’d be able to go round and collect it. 🤷‍♀️
I’ll know next time.

Depends whether the pharmacy have it as well. I was warned with my last prescription i may need to try a few... luckily the first one had it (but only one!)

That's really strange. When I get a prescription it is sent straight to pharmacy and I can collect it in about 20 minutes. 5 days is absurd - surely if you're at the point of a doctor then your condition probably requires treatment more urgently than that?

That's ages - when I get a prescription from my GP, it goes automatically to my local pharmacy and I can get it in about 20mins if I want.

Our surgery is 3 working days, so if a prescription was requested on a Wednesday after 11am, it wouldn't be ready until the following Monday. I order mine on the NHS app, usually 7-10 days before I need my meds.

Could it possibly be because it's the Easter bank Holiday. ????? Anyway, my practice says allow 4 working days from putting it in online to Boots having it ready. There are 100s of prescriptions going through every day, I don't expect mine to be shoved to the top of the queue.

I’m in the 20 mins camp too. If it’s a repeat I order it on the app (usually in the evening) and pick it up the next day.
If I’ve had an appointment it’s sent straight to the pharmacy and ready when I pop down.
I suppose some rarer items might not be in stock.

Ours claims 10 days turnaround but it’s more like 18-20 days.

Exactly this. Some people wait til they have run out of their meds before putting a prescription in (or seeing a GP,) and then they go and moan that they are 'going to be without their meds' when they can't get their prescription items in 37 seconds. 🙄

Some people are just disorganised, and poor planners. No good blaming the GP, or the pharmacy for it!

Now that IS batshit. Why on earth does it take 20 days??? Are they ordering the meds from New Zealand? (By boat!)

The one I work at is 3 days for repeats. My own is 5 days (it has a dispensary).
But if it's a one off like antibiotics or something prescribed that day then it's the same day, unless not in stock.

Ours is the same if we order online. It takes forever.

No idea, they’re pretty clueless (both the surgery and the local pharmacy). The surgery is the worst tbf, last time when I went into the pharmacy with a delay I swear the person behind the counter muttered ffs before phoning them!

Ours says to allow ten working days turnaround for repeats although it seems to be quicker than that. I request via NHS app, GP actions it within 2-3 days, then it's usually about the same for the pharmacy. It just means planning ahead if you know you're running low.

If it was a one off like antibiotics the prescription usually gets to the pharmacy quicker than I do! They then usually process it in the pharmacy whilst I'm waiting.

3-5 days unless it's like an urgent thing- they tend to have those in already

Anything other than a repeat prescription our chemist Boots never seems to get the prescription sent over that day or have the item in stock, even standard dose antibiotics. When I say can I have the prescription and I will try elsewhere, Boots suddenly have the item in stock.I do appreciate they cannot stock every item. Repeat items are usually 3/4 days after putting in request.

my repeat prescription comes from a central pharmacy and is delivered to Boots in sealed bags. It takes about 5-7 days.

That's bonkers! I thought 4-5 working days was bad enough. 😆(And if they don't have the item in at Boots, and have to order it in, it can take an extra 1-2 days.)

Love your username by the way. Crocodile Dundee?

This is not a repeat prescription . If pharmacy doesn’t have it you can take prescription elsewhere .

but you might struggle now with it been b/ h weekend .. if it is an urgent prescription and drug not available they can contact gp for an alternative again too late for that now though

Ordered mine via my surgery website, late Sunday night, delivered first thing Tuesday! Pharmacy2U is the way to go! Well, it is for repeat prescriptions anyway!

5 days for a non-repeat prescription is ridiculous. You should be able to collect it the same day.

My GP surgery dispense their own medications so you don't even need to go to a pharmacy. You just collect it from reception on the way out.

I’ve never needed repeat prescriptions and a few years ago I had a prescription for antibiotics and was surprised when the pharmacy told me they need 3 days. What good is waiting 3 days when I need antibiotics now. Didn’t realise you could then request the prescription to take elsewhere so will bare that in mind!