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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To complain to the gp practice manager?

91 replies

LivinLaVidaLoki · 21/04/2019 16:34

I have asthma which is mostly triggered by allergies.
Every year from about March to September I take a nasal antihistamine. This is prescribed after trying various over the counter antihistamines and a couple of prescription ones. This one seems to be the only one that is really effective.
I still had a bottle left from last year so started using that in March but it was running out. Knowing it would likely run out over the bank holiday I called the prescription clerk at the gp to order a repeat on Monday last week (it takes 3 days). I went to the pharmacy yesterday to pick it up and it's not there.
I called the gp surgery who said it had been sent to the doctor on Monday but not actioned as it's not on my repeat medication list.
I explained that I've always had it on repeat and she said that as I've not had it since September it has been removed from my repeat list.
The receptionist was very helpful and said she would take it up with the gp on Tuesday.
I bought some clarityn to try and take the edge off, but I feel lousy. I feel stuffy and tight chested and just generally shit on the nicest weekend we have had.
I just feel that all this could have been avoided if someone had called me to let me know about the problem with my prescription so I could try and fix it but no one did and now here I am feeling wheezy and sorry for myself.

OP posts:

CharityConundrum · 21/04/2019 19:21

If there is an issue with a life saving script I will ring the patient. Hayfever meds not so much. I am usually finishing off the scripts after a full days work at 8-9pm. Funnily enough ringing someone to have a chat about their hayfever spray is not top of my priority list.

Your dismissive attitude is really disappointing- the OP is trying to manage her 'minor' health condition to avoid a major one becoming a potentially life-threatening issue, which is exactly what the NHS needs! Implying that anyone in her position is wasting your time asking for prescription medication is unfair and potentially dangerous.

MaxNormal · 21/04/2019 19:29

@memorial apologies for my tone, your reply was more gracious than I deserved. I had a horrible time with my former gp surgery (current gp is lovely fortunately) so it's a sensitive area for me and I project sometimes.

DeathMetalMum · 21/04/2019 19:31

Anything that hasn't been issued in the last six months, is usually taken off repeat. (Other than things like contraceptive pills which are often given 3/6/9 months at a time). While it would have been ideal for the surgery to let you know, unfortunately there just isn't the resources available. Imagine how many perscription requests the surgery received on a daily basis. Are they expected to contact everyone who's request doesn't go through?

ColdTattyWaitingForSummer · 21/04/2019 19:31

I’ve had pretty much the exact same issue with a medication I was on.. Prescription refused, no one letting me know, and being left without meds I really needed (one that is actually dangerous to stop suddenly - you need to be weaned off it). As a pp says above an automated text saying “please contact the surgery to discuss your prescription” or similar would take up a lot less time than me having to phone up (multiple times) and take up an appointment for something that could have been a two minute phone consult. Not to mention feeling thoroughly rotten.

Millie2018 · 21/04/2019 19:34

memorial it may be time for a career change

memorial · 21/04/2019 19:41

Millie seriously??
I'm a 50 yr old experienced and popular GP partner. I actually love my job. My patients respect me.
I am exactly the kind of GP the NHS cannot afford to lose more of.
Personally I am a single parent to a 17 and 11 yr old. Retrain?
Maybe the government and public could try and appreciate and fund the NHS not a appropriately so we could actually do our job properly

TattiePants · 21/04/2019 19:43

Memorial if you really are a HCP then I hope your listening skills are better than you reading skills. The OP said in the first line that she has asthma, surely you know that asthma attacks can be serious? She also said she'd tried various OTC sprays and this is the only one that works for her. I know it's only a chat forum but most HCPs are very careful about the 'advice' they give.

memorial · 21/04/2019 19:47

Errr what medical advice did I give. She didn't ask for any. She asked if she should complain.
It's because of this hideous bullying threatening attitude towards doctors that no one actually wants to be a doctor anymore. Who can blame them.

Raspberrytruffle · 21/04/2019 19:56

@Chouetted yes I agree it's not good that I have to do this, if you miss a month they knock it off your list so I have to go through to see a doctor again to get it added back. I'm on medication that is essential to my health if I dont use it I get very sick and my medication has horrible side effects so i take half the dose as i find it doesn't effect me to much but my doctor refuses to lower the dose so it's a case off if i miss a month i loose it .

Millie2018 · 21/04/2019 19:56

memorial Maxnormal asks are you as rude and condescending to your patients? Your response was sadly yes. Hence my comment it may be time for a career change.
Both my children have medical conditions that have necessitated numerous GP visits and hospital referrals. In the past 4 years I have encountered error after error by both GPs and their support staff. But I shouldn’t complain? I should just accept their competence, even when it has had a direct impact on their health? No thank you. At least by highlighting these issues to them I can hope to save someone else’s child from also going through this.

Millie2018 · 21/04/2019 19:58

Incompetence

memorial · 21/04/2019 20:01

Sigh. These threads always end the same way. No wonder I mostly avoid MN nowadays. Bash the doctor fuck the NHS.
When it's gone and you actually have to pay for your healthcare Britain will truly have the healthcare it deserves. I'm off.

arethereanyleftatall · 21/04/2019 20:06

Raspberry- did you seriously just write that you pointlessly order prescriptions you don't need, knowing the nhs is under strain? Please tell us you didn't mean that.

arethereanyleftatall · 21/04/2019 20:08

Sorry, cross post raspberry.

GFgertie · 21/04/2019 20:09

@memorial

Please take no notice of rude, entitled posters. Most of us appreciate our doctors.

twig1234 · 21/04/2019 20:09

Memorial is talking total sense. I too get sick of seeing threads like these.

Soontobe60 · 21/04/2019 20:10

Millie28, maybe you should,try paying for your healthcare?
I personally appreciate all the healthcare I have received over the years primarily because I have had it for free (minus the contributions I have paid in taxes). Friends of mine who live inUSA and Canada have a totally different point of view, as they either pay through the nose for their healthcare, or go without.

PatMullins · 21/04/2019 20:20

I work in primary care both clinical and clerical and I echo what @memorial has said. I hate it.

mookinsx · 21/04/2019 20:21

I can't order over the phone, also usually any medication you've not had for a while will not be on your repeats. Meaning it needs to be reviewed to ensure it's still the best medication for you. It's general procedure and they can't just think oh it's allergy meds I'll issue. They have to do their job properly.

Yes it's inconvenient. However the run up to Easter on a 4 day week where most gps aren't full time. It's busy, it's hectic.

IMO I would have thought you would book an appointment or put the request in with plenty of time to ensure this kind of thing doesn't happen.

I'm sorry to hear you've suffered with your allergies over the holiday.

bellabasset · 21/04/2019 20:28

My surgery only accepts written repeat prescriptions from the patient, pharmacies are unable to do this automatically. They do have online prescription service so you know what you can order or what might need a dr's call.

You can't order from the receptionist, this means that there is less wastage and the GP. knows when patients are not using mrdication

JaniceBattersby · 21/04/2019 20:37

Hang in there memorial. My sister has just quit as a GP as she says she spends every day terrified she’s made a mistake that will end fatally because there are too many patients and not enough time. Such a shame.

moosesormeece · 21/04/2019 20:39

I can't believe people on here are saying not to complain. Of course it's not ok that there is an internal system problem that allows a situation where someone was told a prescription would be ready to collect in 3-4 days when there was never any chance that that could happen. The person taking the call should have been able to see the repeat list before she gave out that information, and then the OP could have done something about the fact that it wasn't. If there's no complaint how will the practice manager know this very simple communication problem needs to be resolved?

LakieLady · 21/04/2019 20:42

Hopefully you'll be able to get it prescribed as there are restrictions now on antihistamines in terms of prescribing

I still get mine prescribed. They tried to change it for a cheaper one, but it was a once a day thing and they never last through to the evening. They're prescribing it without question now.

However, I may have to get it changed, as it doesn't seem to be working very well this year. It's been absolutely hellish this weekend, my nose is running like a tap, my sinuses are really painful, it's given me earache and a sore throat and affected my sleep.

Hope you manage to get yours sorted, OP.

SaGa · 21/04/2019 20:42

@memorial I don’t think people can empathise how difficult working as a GP is. I have been on both sides of the fence. It is extremely stressful working as a GP or a hospital doctor in this day and age.
It is a vicious circle, not enough staff so more errors, underfunding and complaints makes the profession undesirable so no new staff, more pressure on existing staff so more pressure, more errors and more unhappy patients. From a patient’s point of view, what else can they do other than give feedback or complain. It’s not like they can move to another provider.
The only way is a policy change and more funding but that may never happen. It will hit the country hard in 10 years when there is no general population who will want to work in the NHS.
My 8 year old was once asked what she wanted to do when she grows up. She said she is not sure but she will definitely not work in the NHS. I was shocked how she picked up our stress.

FoxSake · 21/04/2019 20:43

I hear you Memorial. YABU to complain for all the reasons Memorial has said, you also have a responsibility to order your medication in plenty of time so you aren’t without and putting pressure on the emergency appointments.

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