To switch to an online pharmacy?

[IMissFrance]

I have a few repeat prescriptions.

One is a controlled drug and sometimes the pharmacy will question it. This makes me uncomfortable as my pharmacy is a Lloyds in the middle of my hometown and I wouldn't want someone who knows me but not my condition to overhear me justifying the prescription.

I've seen in my GP/NHS app that I can change from my nominated pharmacy to an online one.

Which on the face of it seems great.

But would like to hear experiences and recommendations please. As the list of online pharmacies that the NHS links is so long!

Do I have to pay for postage? Are they on time? (I don't pay for prescriptions anyway due to having a lifelong condition)

I work long hours and the last thing I want to do on the weekend is queue for ages at the chemist. We've been using pharmacy2u for a couple of years now and can't fault them. If we have an emergency appointment at the GP then they send it to our local chemist so we can get it that day. Pharmacy2u then contact us by email a couple of days later to change back over to them

@Mumdiva99

The problem with everyone going online is that it will kill off the local pharmacist. And who will you go to for advice when they aren't there? Who will do you a super quick prescription in an emergency? Who knows you and your condition and will pick up on the fact the doctor prescribed something wrong? Who will warn you when a drug brand you rely on is being changed.....

Whilst I agree with the sentiment I switched to Echo back in June having had to collect 3 repeat prescriptions and had to wait between 60 and 90 mins each time, plus queuing the day before to request the prescription as no one answered the phone.

On one occasion completely messed up my medications - I had a batch so had queued up the day before to request and they had made up the wrong one the next day.

Echo have been fab, and the surgery had no issue switching, I have had one offs as well.

I also recommend Echo.

@DogsSausages

Do online pharmacies deliver controlled meds

They deliver lorazepam and diazepam but I don’t know about anything else.

Another happy Echo user.

Medication that is being dispensed always goes into a basket beforehand its standard operating procedures within the industry and is there to help prevent any dispensing errors.
Using an online pharmacy is entirely up to any patient. Please note that if you need an item urgently, such as antibiotics, your surgery are likely to send this to your pharmacy option instead of a closer one unless you ask them to change your pharmacy nomination. Therefore instead of having access urgent meds asap it will be sent out in the post to you which will delay treatment. As for you being asked about your controlled drugs, I would ask for a private consultation with the pharmacist next time it happens. Explain your concerns and reasons as to why you don't want to be constantly asked in front of other patients etc. Unfortunately pharmacists do have to check medication with patients its part of their job however by simply highlighting to them that you do not want it discussed in front of anyone any decent pharmacist should make a note on your records and respect your wishes. They are only trying to keep you safe with your medication and not trying to make you feel embarrassed.

Have you looked to see if your pharmacy will deliver? The one I use does I order via the nhs app, they deliver a couple of days later

I use Pharmacy2U and am happy with it. Might not if it was the last pharmacy in a village but there are half a dozen pharmacies within waking distance so can risk it, much more convenient.

Also it depends what controlled drugs you have. Schedule 3 or 4 such as gabapentin, tramadol, diazepam can be delivered however schedule 2 drugs such as end of life, fentanyl patches, morphine etc may not be able to be delivered and will need you to be in to sign for them. They can not jist arrive through the letter box.
Doctors do question patients about some online pharmacies because some (not all) have a horrendous reputation for ordering all medication every month without being asked to by a patient and defrauding the NHS out of money. Also they were advertising falsely saying they were the selected NHS recommended provider which was and still is complete bollox. They caused no end of problems !!

Pharmacy2u here. Repeat prescription for HRT. No questions asked it just gets done every month. Saves so much time. Brilliant idea.

@WanderingMilly

We're rural so our drugs are dispensed directly from the GP surgery in the village, wonderful system. I walk up to collect for the exercise but if we can't get out they deliver instead. It's brilliant.....

I am the same but they are dreadful. Also as I'm shielding I'm specifically told not to go to a pharmacy but they won't deliver. I would use an online one but don't know what happens if you have urgent/acute scripts?

I use www.pilltime.co.uk/

Never had a problem, they monthly, 3-4 days before the last months run out.

I have morning and evening medication and they come in little separated bags, like a ticket machine which makes it very easy to see if I have missed any.

Fantastic service, highly recommended.

I tried an online delivery which worked well but I cancelled to support my local pharmacy. However my local pharmacy is not the best organised and it was taking up to 2 weeks to get the prescription filled - lost prescription, said they hadn't received any prescription. I know these things can happen anywhere but it ended up that I was sat in the pharmacy for an hour each night after work waiting and then, when they noticed I was still there,
finally told they had lost the prescription/printed it in the wrong colour, it fell behind the baskets etc. so I have gone back to online arrives 2 days after ordering and I don't have to spend a week sitting in their office!!

I've been using Echo pharmacy for nearly a year. On the whole it's been fantastic. One of the drugs was a pain in the arse to get in at the start, but they were easy to get in contact with and now they seem to be able to get it much quicker. I still allow extra time on it but the rest are super quick. Definitely far easier than a real life pharmacy.

I have both Zomorph (modified release morphine) and Pregablin among other drugs and i haven’t managed to get anyone to taken my prescription yet. I’m not sure if it’s because my surgery issue the controlled drugs prescription separately to the other drugs.

I’ve had complete nightmares with my pharmacy, I live in a small village that doesn’t even have a surgery or pharmacy and I’ve tried to switch before to different pharmacies but still have issues. Home delivery would be better for us but I do think it’s a case of better the devil you know.

DH uses Pharmacy2U. He stared when shielding advice was "do not go to the pharmacy".

Previously we had supported our local (6 miles away) pharmacy, but to be honest, on several occasions they have been so rude to us, and also shut for an hour at lunchtime every day (so often inconvenient) we don't feel too bad about the change.

P2U are really efficient and the system so far has worked perfectly.

@Dontsayfuckorbugger

Also it depends what controlled drugs you have. Schedule 3 or 4 such as gabapentin, tramadol, diazepam can be delivered however schedule 2 drugs such as end of life, fentanyl patches, morphine etc may not be able to be delivered and will need you to be in to sign for them. They can not jist arrive through the letter box. Doctors do question patients about some online pharmacies because some (not all) have a horrendous reputation for ordering all medication every month without being asked to by a patient and defrauding the NHS out of money. Also they were advertising falsely saying they were the selected NHS recommended provider which was and still is complete bollox. They caused no end of problems !!

Ah thanks for this.

I just googled and mine is a Schedule 2.

Hmmm I wonder if it's going to be an issue. I might message Echo and ask.

I use Pharmacy2U. Great service and updates on Covid when there is news. Thoroughly recommend.

Another good review for Echo. Try have been really good and their customer service is great.

Two of my local pharmacies have been incredibly unprofessional. One pharmacist openly disclosed all my medication to everyone else in the shop. I tore her a strip off about patient confidentiality, but her response was "Well, they won't know what any of the names mean". Not exactly the point.

In the other pharmacy, the assistant also announced my medication to the whole shop by calling over to me "Was it the xyz you were waiting for?" Just beggars belief.

I use pharmacy2u which have been ok. Our local pharmacy is shut at the weekend and I thought it would be safer to get it delivered than going in

I use pharmacy2u also. Highly rate them. No need to involve GP then go out and collect from pharmacy so less risk of covid. It is a pain because my prescription is long term and having to request every month is a pain. Pharmacy2u remind me to re order 10 days before it is needed, keep me informed the whole time and deliver for free. So quick and simple.

Also if I need an urgent prescription I would ask GP to send it to my local pharmacy, pharmacy2u only issue the prescription you request.

I sent Echo an email.

They can't guarantee they're dispense my drug (Lisdexamfetamine) and I'd need to speak to the team every time they got a repeat and then be assessed each time if they would send it.

So sounds like a hassle. Will just stick with my branch and do as someone else suggests and let my pharmacist know I'd rather not discuss openly.

It's only for ADHD but I'm not ready to "come out" to most people about it. It's more that having the word "amphetamine" said aloud makes me worry some acquaintance will overhear and think something negative.

I have a long list of regular prescriptions which I could use an online pharmacy but can anyone tell me what happens to urgent ones?
My GP is a rural practise and do their own dispensing. I am shielding and not supposed to go to a pharmacy but they won't deliver so I have to go in every month.

Someone I know used pharmacy2U and they were absolutely awful. Every month there was something wrong or missing and once they even got someone else's prescriptions!!