To expect to be able to leave meds at a chemist for several weeks?

[Letmeoff]

If press rate valid for several months, if the doctor sends direct to pharmacy why can you not leave them for a while? With the way life is and the fact the chemist allows 1 person a time and the queue is always long, I did not pick up my prescribed meds for six or seven weeks. I received a couple of tests- the latest last week saying they were ready. When I wenot to get them they said they’ve put them back on the shelf. So I’m without meds for a few days while I wait for doc to reissue prescription and send to chemist. But now I’ve had time to think - if prescriptions are valid for months why couldn’t they just refill the prescription and give it to me? Why do I need to get a new one - aibu expecting you be able to pick up after weeks 🤔

We get repeat every month. It's 2 huge bag full of meds and other stuff. If I did that, I can imagine they will get annoyed.
Anyway, don't they offer to deliver? Maybe check with chemists. Ours have option.

YABU. If there is a long queue, go at a quieter time.

Don't really understand- you were prescribed drugs by a doctor (or requested a repeat possibly.)

The prescription was sent to a pharmacist,, then they dispensed the drugs?

You didn't go to collect them for six or seven weeks.

I guessing you didn't go for six or seven weeks because you only got a text about the drugs being ready in the sixth or seventh week (?)

Also, how were you only without the drugs for a few days and not six or seven weeks?

I think the problem is that when the pharmacy gets the prescription direct from the gp they fill it immediately. they should have a system to be able to hold it back if you don't need the meds just yet. yabu to expect the pharmacy to give shelf room to your meds for weeks but iiittt should be easy enough for them to keep the unfulfilled prescription on-file for weeks.

YABU

You clearly didn’t need them if you could leave them for 6-7 weeks. You have created extra work for both the pharmacist and the Dr -who all have enough to do. Don’t order early or pick up shortly after requested. You can’t expect the pharmacy to store your drugs indefinitely.

Don’t think I’ve ever seen an AIBU that was quite so unanimous. Nonetheless I’ll chime in too.

YABVU medicines are dispensed when you need them, not solely at your convenience, and they represent a cost to the pharmacy that causes huge cash flow issues with if many don’t collect that the same time. Our pharmacies have done incredible work on the frontline through the pandemic and your attitude is very disrespectful.

slightly off subject, but how can pharmacies just put meds back on the shelf, mine always come with a label with my name etc on it?

@Ifailed

slightly off subject, but how can pharmacies just put meds back on the shelf, mine always come with a label with my name etc on it?

Remove the label. Or put the meds and the information leaflet into one of the blank boxes they have.

Remove the label.
I just tried, it doesn't fully come off - I suppose that is deliberate for safety reasons.

6 or 7 weeks is taking the piss though. It's entirely your fault you've been left without medication, not the pharmacy.

Oh,@Letmeoff - was it Boots? They are awful!

YABU, that is too long.

If medications are being prescribed two months before you need them then either you are over ordering, not taking the medicine properly or in need of a medication review. Something isn’t working at your end so it’s not right to blame the pharmacist.

There have been shortages on many items that my DH has needed due to cv19 but you want to order medication that you clearly don’t need which may prevent someone else from getting it

One way to protect the NHS and pharmacies financially is only to order drugs when you actually need them and not stockpile just in case you need them in 2 months time.

You clearly ordered drugs that you did not need. That is selfish. Maybe try and take more responsibility in future.

And the prize for most entitled customer goes too

YABU, there’s no space to store dispensed drugs for long periods of time.

During normal times I’d say yabu
High % of people don’t pick up meds so full shelves

But during Covid Yanbu as if you’d been isolating for 14 days & then got Covid that’s a possible 5/7 week nit getting your meds by chemists own rules

Just order it when you need it and thats your problem solved. We have 12000 patients that we dispense for, where do you want me to keep 2 or 3 months of prescriptions? Also peoples medications change regularly which is another reason we don't keep it long as I'm sure you would be the first one stomping back to complain about it.

There is a sign up in a pharmacy I use saying that prescribed medication must be collected within 4 weeks, otherwise it will be put back into stock.

YABU to have requested the medications long before you needed them. If they are medicines which you need to take daily and regularly then your GP surgery WBA to have prescribed them as they should know, from your record, when to prescribe them.

YABU to moan when you have run out of meds when it is your fault for not collecting them.

Did you clap on Thursday nights OP?

@ivykaty44

During normal times I’d say yabu High % of people don’t pick up meds so full shelves

But during Covid Yanbu as if you’d been isolating for 14 days & then got Covid that’s a possible 5/7 week nit getting your meds by chemists own rules

Then you phone up the chemist to explain and hopefully arrange delivery surely?

You sound very disorganized op. I think you should pick meds up before they run out.

But during Covid Yanbu as if you’d been isolating for 14 days & then got Covid that’s a possible 5/7 week nit getting your meds by chemists own rules
They could either:

1. Telephone the pharmacy and let them know.
2. Ask someone else to telephone the pharnacy.
3. Arrange for someone else to collect them (including volunteer services if the patient has no family or friends).
4. Arrange for them to be delivered.

YABU I doubt they’d have space to store medication for that long, not to mention after 7 weeks they probably assumed you weren’t coming to get them ever- that you’d moved away or was dead or something.

Then you phone up the chemist to explain and hopefully arrange delivery surely?

Pharmacy delivered after such a cock up with terminal ill relative, during lockdown

But it was made very clear delivery was not the norm. I had offered to walk to collect, but the pharmacist knew this would take me some time and so it was quick for her to deliver on route home.

So I don’t think that delivery is normal