Long waits for repeat prescriptions

[ShellieAnn]

Is anyone else dealing with stupidly long waits for simple medications on repeat? I get a painkiller ordered every month for a health condition. I used to get it sent straight to my nominated pharmacy but recently the last few times I've ordered it, it's taken over a week for it to be ready. The last one was 10 days. When I query it with them they say it has been sent to the " hub" due to high demand and to wait longer for it. Despite them having 220 boxes of the medication I need, they could not give me one because it had been sent to " the hub". I have to practically beg for it otherwise I'm waiting indefinitely.
This month I asked for them to change to a paper prescription which means I can just pick it up from the GP surgery and take it to any pharmacy. But again I've been waiting since last Thursday. Is anyone else experiencing this and getting annoyed?

So where is the delay?

At the GP surgery or with the pharmacy?

I'm using Chemist4U as my pharmacy now - the GP sends the prescription there automatically and it's posted to me within a few days. I've only had one item caught up in a national shortage which they phoned me about immediately.

As much as I'd like to support a local business, they mess everyone around - part filled prescriptions they don't tell you about, missing items, incorrect items in the bag, taking 20mins to search for your prescription on the shelves only to find they haven't made it up yet and never ordered the items after a week of waiting for it... I was sick of standing in there for an hour each time I went in and still going home without all I needed.

No - just picked up some medication on Tuesday, ordered on Friday and was ready Saturday lunchtime.

No, my surgery has it's own dispensary. I can order one evening and it will be ready the next morning. Never wait longer than about 36 hours.

I get my pharmacy to manage my regular prescriptions. So they order it from the GP every month for me. I've no idea what the turnaround at the doctors is only that you are supposed to.give 48 hours notice for ordering repeat prescriptions.

The delay was with the pharmacy initially. This is the first time I've gone to a paper prescription so I'm hoping it's a one off and it will be straight forward in future. Your local pharmacy sounds like mine. They closed 3 other local pharmacies near me so it's part of the problem but it's just ridiculous all this business with the " hub". I asked them what the hub is and I got some word salad that left me none the wiser.

We have this issue. Repeats have to be requested with 10 working days notice. This is a dispensary within the GP surgery, so not open for the general public. I’m sure there’s a good reason for it, but it is baffling

We have to give 72 hours notice, but the surgery also do this thing where they stop prescribing and don't tell you why. You then have to chase it up and they tell you that you need a review so you have to make an appointment for the review whilst all the time running out of medications. What follows is a fraught two weeks playing "Will I ever get my medication again?!"

I think they're supposed to let you know, but these messages can be elusive and not all of your medication is included in this review.

10 days notice?! That's absolutely ridiculous.

I haven’t had any issues. I have repeat prescriptions, but the pharmacy sorts it out and they text me when my medication is ready.

Mine say 2 days but if i order vis gp website they are ready to pick up by lunchtime

I do mine through the NHS app, so if they need a review/blood test they message through that.

I give 72 hours notice, check it's approved in the app and then pop to the nominated pharmacy the next day. No problems so far.

I'm having this issue too. Mine say a week. I went exactly a week later and they claim still not ready, could I come back in a hour! Crazy.

We have this problem. It's taking 3-4 weeks to get medication.

My repeats are a nightmare.
I take a lot of physical and mental health related medication and I get my prescriptions weekly
Now my pharmacy know this, but I have to ring them early every Thursday morning to make sure they do them, and they say they will be done at 4.
I go in and they are never done.
Or say ill ring up and they say they have been done. I go in to collect and they haven't been done.
It's a pain in the arse.

I've had it with my pharmacy a few times - but only for repeat items, if I need a new item they do it straight away. Doesn't make any sense to me? I may switch to paper but that's a faff too

I thought switching to paper would be easier. Only disadvantage would be having to walk to my GP surgery as it's not on my doorstep like the chemist is. But it's taken a week again. I rang up, was on hold for 20 mins and was told my prescription was ready but for some reason I hadn't received a text.

Cant you request on line through your NHS ap

Mine allows my blood thinners into he nhs app, but DP's (different practice) doesn't allow his Ssris due to required check ups. Which he hasn't had since pre covid. When he queried this, they still refused despite him asking for a review and not getting one. So he has to deliver a hand written note. I'm so glad I didn't move practices!

I’ve been waiting a month for a repeat medication. All permutations are out of stock and none being delivered. Wondering if it’s to do with brexit

I've had this with one of my prescriptions, which is not a wildly unusual one, though not run of the mill. I've taken it for 3 years, tried to come off it, relapsed and have now tried 4 different pharmacies with no luck so consultant has had to change to immediate release and not modified which I've always been on. Normally I get them from my surgery with a dispensary, who are brilliant, but because it was essentially a new prescription and I needed to start ASAP I had a paper one. No online service will deliver to where I live. It's been stressful!

What is the medication?