I posted this in chat but no response.
I have spent almost a week trying to get through to my doctors surgery to get a new prescription for my pill. Every time I ring I am something ridiculous like number 62 in the queue. Finally after spending all day on the phone on Thursday (while at work) I got through and was told by reception in order to get a new prescription I needed a telephone “review” by the nurse.
The nurse rang me a few hours later asked me what I wanted. I told her I needed a new pill prescription she said fine where did I want my prescription to go. I told her my local Boots in the town where I live and she said no problem it will be ready within 24 hours. I repeated back Boots and the town and she said yes.
I go to Boots pharmacy today and they don’t have the prescription. Pharmacists asks for my NHS number and when he checks he says the prescription has gone to a Lloyds pharmacy and as it’s part of their online pharmacy will be sent to my home address.
I asked him to check and he said yes that’s definitely where’s it’s gone. I asked him if I could have a weeks supply of my prescription to keep me going as I am about to run out. He said yes but I’d have to pay. I queried this as contraception is free but he said his pharmacy “would lose money” by giving it to me.
Luckily I can afford to pay £9.50 but what about people that can’t. What if I was a young girl with no money or a woman in a violent relationship with no easy access to cash who needs that prescription and can’t afford an unplanned pregnancy.
Why do we need a prescription any way? My so called telephone review was a “what do you want” and when I had to have a pill check last time the nurse asked me no questions, didn’t weigh me or take my blood pressure just printed out the prescription and handed it to me. What’s the point?!