to not understand why we settle for things as a nation (prescription related)

[TransplantedScouser]

I have a very low level underlying condition (reflux).

I used to phone each month to the doctors to get a repeat prescription.

then they said, go onto batch. We send the prescription over to the pharmacy every six months and all you have to do is collect it each month. Now, bearing in mind you used to get 3-6 months prescriptions in one go so having to do it monthly was a pain in the backside this was a good thing.

Everything worked well for a couple of years.

Went to pick up my latest prescription yesterday - not ready.

Apparently you now have to phone the pharmacy 7 days before you want to collect it to ask them to make the batch up.

I have to admit this sent me a little bat shit. what is the time saving in that? I may as well just phone the doctors every month for a repeat prescription if I'm going to have to phone the pharmacy anyway.

They have taken a system that worked well and basically regressed back.

the pharmacist said "Well the batch was just to save the doctors time having to write a prescription each month".

So, AIBU to think this is another case of the NHS being set up for the convenience of the staff and not the patient?

After this batch I'm going to get a private prescription and cancel my NHS pre pay.

I can get a six month prescription including the fee for the doctor doing it for less than six months pre pay costs me. And I only have to worry about it twice a year.

Having to phone would be a very irritating burden for me. If I could send an email instead that would completely solve the problem. That seems a very small administrative improvement to make. (Fortunately, reading the thread, it seems there are pharmacies who provide a way around the problem.)

This reminds me of the time I had to lose a few hundred pounds in self-employed earnings every time I wanted a repeat prescription, because apparently prescriptions could only be requested by visiting GP receptionist in person. Not sure exactly how much income I lost before it emerged that a fax was an acceptable alternative. (And yes, I know I should have found a way around it, but working out how to get healthcare without relying on a bureaucratic organisation that monopolises 99% of provision was less obvious, in pre-internet days.)

Having to make a phone call instead of sending an email is, objectively, unnecessarily shit, given that sending an email is about the tenth of the effort, and should also be easier for the pharmacy.

Tell me, what should be done? a bloody coup? revolution?

Or the pharmacy could accept emails in addition to phone calls. It's not asking for a lot, is it?

I think you're lucky to have this system in the first place

My surgery only does 28 day prescriptions and quite often it's kate and they blame each other

YANBU OP, I too have lived in another country and used their health are system, and it was better than the NHS. The NHS is brutal and seems to provide basic health care only in comparison, and the astonishing delays seem built into the system to save money, rather than to save lives.

I don't know why British people settle for it, but I've often noticed that they compare it to the US system, rather than one of the excellent European systems. I often think the British must be quite physically robust not to have a lower life expectancy than much of Europe because it can be so difficult sometimes to actually get basic treatment.

So it costs you the same amount of effort - one phone call.

But saves a lot behind the scenes to the providers.

Of course it's a worthwhile change, especially in services which are always very busy and need to streamline admin as far as they can

Or we’ve gotten so entitled as a nation that we get posts like this... shm. Of all the awful things going on in this “Great” Britain and this is what you’re up in arms about...

So for comparison, on the country I grew up in fir 0art of my life, there are a few competing, non profit making health are providers, and one as you describe, which was unnecessarily beaurucratic and difficult to use would likely just go out of business. As people would leave it in favour of one of the other providers who didn't require them to jump through hoops to get medication.

Oh ffs. Yabu. The entitlement is just shocking. Lockdown has really exposed the entitled moaners.

Come to the country I live in!

Prescriptions are generally cheaper than Britain for your bog standard meds like you need for reflux.

Only.....

There's no such thing as a repeat...

You want a prescription, you have to see your GP

You want more than a small amount, you have to see your GP

GPs are literally triage, so if you need, say, your annual smear, it's up to you to go to your GP, tell them you need the prescription for a smear, which they do...then the onus is on you to find somewhere that will do it....(once you've paid your £36 for a public test, or your £80 for a private one of course) How much is a smear in Britain?

If you need any kind of specialist referral, (you know like in Britain how the GP gets into that computer for you? ) Here the GP tells you what you need, and you (pay for the specialist visit in advance) and you get onto the computer and find yourself somewhere (public health service or private) etc etc.

If you have a specialist visit, and that specialist recommends a medicine, they write it on a bit of paper, which you take to your GP, who writes you a prescription.

Need a blood test? Off you pop with your bit of paper (prescription) and pay, then off to a blood test centre of your choice. Etc.

Having to make a phone call for a repeat prescription must be so hard for you.

@arethereanyleftatall

Oh ffs. Yabu. The entitlement is just shocking. Lockdown has really exposed the entitled moaners.

"Entitled"? Unless you haven't had any need for the NHS in any shape or form in the last 2 years, you are just being goady.

We are talking about a system where the norm is a 3 WEEKS waiting list to see a GP.

If the NHS hadn't been at breaking point already before the pandemic, we wouldn't have been in so much shit frankly. Call yourself lucky you never needed care, let alone emergency care. Don't you dare call others who did "entitled"

Well I dunno
Dh has prescriptions with Boots. They re-order for him every month. He just gets a text to go collect. Has a pre-pay certificate. I struggle to see how that could be made easier or cheaper. Esp. Vs my dbro experience of needing multiple meds in the USA.

Sounds like you need to speak to customer services rather than Mumsnet.

How much is a smear in Britain?

before the pandemic, it was a 6 months waiting list to get one at least, and 8 MONTHS for the result. I have no idea how accurate 8 months old results can be.

And that idea that the NHS is "free" is another example of what is very wrong in this country.

I agree op. I have ordered medication privately in the past because of repeated mix ups with prescriptions. The administration in the NHS is often shocking. And I agree that there is often no account taken of the impact or inconvenience to patients of these decisions. I agree that often what’s easiest for gps and their staff seems to be more important than the patients.

There’s no reason you should have to give 7days notice or get it one month at a time. We have all sorts of technology at our fingertips. Doing small things like this well is important for the NHS. It gives people confidence in the system and makes them happy to pay for it and use it.

before the pandemic, it was a 6 months waiting list to get one at least, and 8 MONTHS for the result. I have no idea how accurate 8 months old results can be

Oh really, I phoned up the day I got the letter in Feb and had an appointment the next day, the results were back within a week . Sorry you have experienced delays, that isn't always the case around the country.

I agree that often what’s easiest for gps and their staff seems to be more important than the patients.

It's actually what's physically managable for GPs, their workload is ridiculous. You can download the NHS app and request repeats, it takes seconds once you've made a log in and it lets you know when it's been signed and sent to the pharmacy.

I’ve also lived in other countries and experienced private healthcare systems. Generally I would say they are vastly superior to the NHS in terms of service.

YABU. I suffer the same, plus something else. I just reorder each month via the nhs app. The prescription is then delivered to me

It’s no hassle

Just use theNHS App to order your medication. Then you can order when you need it, no medication is wasted, pharmacies get time to order in and dispense medications as required, win win.

@Backbee I have two close friends who are gps. They don’t work excessive hours or have an unmanageable workload at all, quite the opposite. And they earn a large salary with a huge pension which is totally out of line with the local salaries everywhere outside of London. So I disagree.

My GP sent all his patients a text message saying they were working harder than ever and not to contact them unless necessary. I can’t imagine treating my clients like that nor would you receive that treatment in many other systems.

TheSilentStars

Come to the country I live in

Prescriptions are generally cheaper than Britain for your bog standard meds like you need for reflux

Only.

There's no such thing as a repeat.

You want a prescription, you have to see your GP

You want more than a small amount, you have to see your GP

So exactly like the NHS (see my pp) just cheaper.

Simple solution.
Those of you who can afford to do so order private prescriptions.

Then once we’ve dealt with the little matter of a global pandemic, lets start by making the great British public more accountable for the misuse of prescriptions/medications that costs millions every year. Stock piled drugs, poor compliance, abuse of prescription painkillers etc. Put those issues high on the list.

Yabu. Good on you getting private prescriptions from now though. Did you check the cost before making the outraged induced commitment? If you didn’t, you’ll be in for a nasty surprise.

Echo. Job done.

I use the NHS app to order my repeat prescriptions. Easy to set up and all I have to do is tick the boxes when I need resupply. The message goes to the GP who tick to approve or call me in. Then the message goes to the pharmacy. I see the approvals and then pop in to collect.

Everyone’s time is saved and I’m a happy bunny.