Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think that the Electronic Precription Service is a total joke and not fit for purpose

54 replies

Oldsu · 17/12/2015 18:38

Had a rare week day off today and went into town with DH we both went to the Chemist to pick up prescriptions I do not use EPS, I have only one type of med and I send a SAE for a paper prescription, I can then read it and make sure its ok and I can then CHOOSE where to have it filled in, in the town where I live or in the town where I work, my choice.

DH uses the EPS service, he can only get his meds at the one chemist, its SUPPOSED to be convenient, its SUPPOSED to make it easier, and its a pile of shit, for THREE months running they have messed up his meds, the wrong ones, no stock, its been a disgrace he is due to get a prescription for medication that he cannot stop taking, so when he got a text yesterday to say his prescription was ready the assumption was it was for that medication but no it was for a prescription that he doesn't need for two weeks the one he needs was not ready at all and he was told that they would have to send a fax to his GP only it was 4 pm so wouldn't get it until the next day, what flaming use is that??????? he is working Friday and Saturday in a different town he cant get to the chemist until next week and his meds run out next week.

I will of course try and get them myself on Saturday, sorry but if this is technology if this is convenience you can poke it.

If he had a paper prescription like me, he could have ordered it well in advance, made sure it was the right one and filled it in wherever he wants like me, instead of being terribly worried that he will not get his medication in time (not doing his BP any good)

He could use the same service and get his details changed so he can pick up his prescription in the town where he works but quite frankly neither of us have any confidence in the scheme.

I am all for GPs spending less time on paperwork and more time with patients but the schemes they put in place should work and not potentially leave patients without the medication they need.

DH will be coming off the EPS scheme in the new year (as he is entitled to do)

OP posts:
Musicaltheatremum · 17/12/2015 22:35

Ah Boots. Enough said. I'm a GP. we don't have EPS here but we do have the chronic medication service where we were to do a script for 6 months to be issued every 2 months to the patient. One of our local pharmacies was brilliant. Boots and others were useless. So each time they come up for renewal I'm cancelling and going back to the old system. One patient was refused his meds due to an error at the pharmacy's end which is stupid as when you're on regular meds a pharmacist can issue an emergency supply.

Galaxymum · 17/12/2015 22:49

It's a nightmare for me. My daughter's prescription was incorrect every time for four months. I ended up making an appointment to go through it with one of the GP partners. He said a lot of the drugs have been automatically changed to accepted versions. ie cheaper. But hers was Hydrocortizone and she kept being prescribed Canestan!!

Mine are a nightmare. My GPs are fantastic and it isn't them. If I go in and ask for an item so get a written prescription it will be correct. But my repeat prescs are all over the place! And do get lost in cyberspace.

5madthings · 17/12/2015 22:57

Should sat mine isn't a boots chemist, it's a little local chemist, there are two of them near where I live, still family run I think.

5madthings · 17/12/2015 23:00

musical my chemist has done that a few times for me, given me a small supply until a full prescription comes through if I was late ordering etc. I can set it up so they just re order fir me rather than phone them but as my skin is variable my meds don't last a consistent amount of time. They really are very good though.

EnlightenedOwl · 17/12/2015 23:00

I have found a pharmacy I trust been on EPS with them for six months now and prescriptions right every time just get a text to say when its ready.

EnlightenedOwl · 17/12/2015 23:03

Oh just read back - Boots is your problem. My medication is for epilepsy. Last year, the day before Christmas Eve after telling me my meds were out of stock for a week Boots announced they couldn't get them and I would have to go back to GP. One day before Christmas Eve and no tablets. I was in a complete mess. Luckily GP sorted it out for me.
Leave Boots they are useless.
New Pharmacy = no problem

purplewhale · 17/12/2015 23:15

I gave up with the local chemist after they cocked up every time I ordered a repeat. Nothing ever in stock and stuff missing or wrong. I now use an online chemist, I select what I need on the app and it comes in the post 2 days later. The first time I used it, it took a bit longer as they had to wait for the GP to agree it.
The one I use is called pharmacy2u

Iwanttokillthem · 17/12/2015 23:23

I use Boots system and they can be totally shit.

But on the other hand as a PP said its people and not the system.

I had one very nice lady explain patiently that it just wasnt possible to order before the date specified on the sheet .Even though the sheet was wrong and i would be out of vital medication for nearly a week given her reasoning.
The prescription wasnt ready when I went to pick it up so I left and returned a while later. This time I spoke to the pharmacist himself ( they were very busy so all hands on deck) who exclaimed at the dating error and declared that he would sort it out and if the surgery complained he would open a spare packet and give me what I needed . There was no problem in the end and Im now back on track where before I had to have 2 trips to pick up one script.

It just takes someone in charge to understand what is necessary.

2rebecca · 17/12/2015 23:30

I think pharmacies ordering for you can be wasteful as they tend to order everything whether you need it or not and often aren't aware of changes to prescriptions. If you are computer literate and have access to it the system where you reorder your own prescriptions online is much better. That's what I do but it's new.

SistersOfPercy · 17/12/2015 23:31

I got no choice in mine.

I order my repeat every month via the patient access app. I then collect it from the gp reception and pick it up at whichever pharmacy is convenient at the time.

2 months ago I turned up at reception to blank looks. 20 minutes of looking and practice manager was called. "Oh yes, you've gone electronic" She says. Your script is at x pharmacy and will be from now on each time you request your repeat.

I asked could I have a paper prescription as I have done for years to collect from reception. No.
Could I at least choose the pharmacy? No.

I'm loathe to complain as our surgery is a brilliant 7 day week one with ample appointments but I can't help but feel a little narked the the decision on where I fill my prescription is now being made for me.

Original poster
Oldsu · 18/12/2015 00:06

SistersOf Percry that's wrong they cant do that I have been checking online as we are cancelling DHs registration

Taken from the NHS site
Can I change my nomination or cancel it and get a paper prescription?
Yes you can. If you don’t want your prescription to be sent electronically tell your GP. If you want to change or cancel your nomination speak to any pharmacist or dispensing appliance contractor that offers EPS, or your GP practice. Tell them before your next prescription is due or your prescription may be sent to the wrong place

OP posts:
knittingqueen · 18/12/2015 00:11

OP tell Boots you'll order your own drugs now (or your husband will). I email my GP what I need when I need it and then they send it to Boots via the electronic pharmacy system. Boots keep pushing me to let them order it but the one time I tried (after one my carers went to get a script for me and said "yeah you order it next time" when they asked) they immediately said they'd order it for the wrong date. Sending an email and having it sent electronically hasn't been a problem.

Even the one time my GP sent down a scrip for antibiotics and boots didn't have it, it was no real problem to go into the supermarket pharmacy and get it there (they had to go into the system and make themselves my "approved pharmacy" and boots had to change it back to them next time but it took maybe a minute).

But I agree with every saying a proper pharmacy is better than Boots. It's Boots or the even worse supermarket pharmacy here, would love to go back to a proper one.

littledrummergirl · 18/12/2015 00:15

If you need to go to another pharmacy for meds and are on eps then ask for a prescribing token from either the chemist that usually has them or your gp.
This has a number which can be used at any pharmacy to collect your meds.

Unfortunately some pharmacies don't seem to understand the process.

MiaowTheCat · 18/12/2015 08:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

EnlightenedOwl · 18/12/2015 08:23

Boots were adamant they couldn't get my epilepsy drugs for me as there was a shortage.
My new local pharmacy didn't have a problem.
My big issue was they didn't give a toss that someone with epilepsy was stood there at risk of running out of meds and they just shrugged and said nothing we can do
I will never put a prescription through Boots now.

wonkylegs · 18/12/2015 08:28

I get my prescription via eps and the main problem is a GP that doesn't listen and because the script goes straight to the chemist I can't check it's right until I get it. Last one wasn't and my disorganised practice took a week of being chased by me and the pharmacist to get it sorted out.
I found the pharmacist owned by the GPs is just as disorganised so I opted to transfer mine to the local supermarket one who are fab and when something goes wrong they phone and badger the GP until they sort it out. I love them they are so helpful and you've just reminded me I need to drop off a Christmas card with a thank you in it.

Chococroc · 18/12/2015 09:20

I use EPS for my multiple prescriptions and don't have a problem at all. I think it's probably the people concerned in your case rather than the system.

Sirzy · 18/12/2015 09:25

I have refused for Ds meds to go onto electronic system, i have also stopped them being sent to the pharmacy. Too often the Gp makes an error with what they prescribe so I would rather be able to check it and get it corrected in the surgery than go to pick it up ready made up to find its wrong. I also always order 2 weeks early to give time to sort problems.

SistersOfPercy · 18/12/2015 10:56

Thank you oldsu I'll ask them to change it back next time!

MrsGlam · 18/12/2015 12:03

Maybe it's not the system..Just boots! A lot of us are saying we use boots!
I wish we had a different chemist in our town..They would get a lot of business!

Sunnymeg · 18/12/2015 12:16

I have been taking my family's prescription to Boots for over 20 years, but their service has deteriorated over the last few months. They 'lost' one of my prescriptions and took three days to make up its replacement even though it was marked as urgent by my surgery. They also sent me texts saying prescriptions were ready, when I hadn't ordered anything. I feel sorry for the staff, as whatever the system is, it isn't working.

Original poster
Oldsu · 18/12/2015 12:47

update DH managed to get someone to cover for him this morning and went into the surgery, got a paper prescription and deregistered himself from the EPS scheme, when he told the receptionist it was Boots he says she rolled her eyes and pulled a face - think that says it all really.

He is back at work and put his prescription in at his local chemist so at last he will get his medication

OP posts:
EnlightenedOwl · 18/12/2015 17:18

Just been into my super duper local pharmacy for my repeat prescription and he said oh your doctor has sent something else for you as well. Turns out I had blood tests done only day before yesterday which threw something up so doc whizzed a script through to the pharmacy for me. Amazing!
But Boots - what they put me through last Christmas was unforgivable. Never ever again.

Rivercam · 18/12/2015 21:48

If a prescription is wrong, it is not eps's fault, but the fault of the person requesting or generating the prescription. Ie. If the pharmacy orders on your behalf, they may have forgotten to request something. Alternatively, the person generating the prescription in the surgery may not have processed the details correctly. To use an old computer acronym, GIGO? I've. Garbage -in, garbage-out.

The advantages of a paper prescription is that it can be checked manually by the patient, and taken anywhere. The advantage of eps prescription is that they can get to the pharmacy quickly, and are paperless. Also, it's easy to send prescriptions to pharmacies away from the surgery.

HelenaDove · 21/12/2015 00:42

Our surgery said the earliest i could put DHs prescription was the 18th so i did. Im hoping it will be ready in time as in not at the last minute as this date was at their insistence.