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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

5 days to fill a prescription.

83 replies

spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 15:36

Is this really the norm now? So my story is dd came back from uni with horrible rash from neck to knees. I said she needed doc. Couldn't get appt so went to pharmacy . The pharmacist didn't know what it was and said see a doc asap. Finally got telephone appt on Tues. doc said it's viral. Said she would write a script for so steroid cream which should help. I couldn't get to the pharmacy on wed and dd managed with calamine and moisturizer. Pharmacy closes at 6. I should have picked one that stayed open late I wasn't thinking. So went at lunch today. Answer was it takes 5 days to prepare the prescription . They only got it from the doc this morn. So that would be next wed she told me to come back . I made a bit of a fuss and said the rash was all over her body and she needed it. Eventually she went and looked and told me it was out of stock anyway. Ended up she gave me the prescription and I have to drive round and find somewhere that has it. She said no boots will have it. Is that the norm now. That scripts take 2 days to travel from doc surgery to chemist then they take 5 days to prepare it. Seems terrible to me. I'm used to walking out the doc straight into the pharmacy and getting the medication but I'm from Dublin. Seems very different here?

OP posts:
Rosebud21 · 20/06/2024 15:42

Manufacturing issues with some medications has become more of a problem recently. Is this is the viral skin condition? While helpful if the rash is itchy, topical steroid treatment isn't always needed https://dermnetnz.org/topics/pityriasis-rosea

Pityriasis rosea - DermNet

Pityriasis rosea is a self-limiting rash, which resolves in about 6–10 weeks. It is characterised by an initial large "herald patch" followed by smaller patches resembling a christmas tree.

https://dermnetnz.org/topics/pityriasis-rosea

Octavia64 · 20/06/2024 15:44

Normal for repeats.
Emergencies should be quicker

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 15:46

Well it was prescribed by the doctor so am presuming she needs it? Albeit over the phone . No I was told repeats are 10 days. Do they have a sliding scale I wonder: like what if it's antibiotics for a chest infection or something urgent.

OP posts:
MooseBreath · 20/06/2024 15:46

I haven't had anything other than a repeat for ages, but I need to order it 10 business days in advance. When I go to pick it up at the pharmacy, it is usually still not ready. It's absolutely ridiculous. Poor patient care and poor customer care.

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 15:49

Hmm I don't think that is what dd has @Rosebud21 . She didn't have a "herald patch". It just appeared all at once. That's the trouble with a phone consult I guess

OP posts:
Ridingthegravytrain · 20/06/2024 15:49

I think it depends on the area. I emailed the doctor surgery Monday asking for some meds for something I had had in the past and the reason why I wanted them. Doctor text me about 2 hrs later to say they had sent script to my local pharmacy and I collected it a couple of hours after that

Bigcoatlady · 20/06/2024 15:49

No thats not normal for an emergency prescription - had to take dd also home from uni for a script for antibiotics this week. Appt at 10, had collected script from pharmacy down the road by 10:20.

BUT we do have big med shortages on some odd things due to Brexit. Boots also has its own distributors because its so big. That's what she meant when she said no Boots will have it - she checked stock at the warehouse and they don't have it. If you take it to a different chemist they may have it in stock or can get it in faster.

IF they still can';t get it ask pharmacist what is available in same family of drugs then call GP to explain and ask if they can prescribe something similar. Pharmacists can only make up exactly drug prescribed so you'll need a new script.

I prescribe in MH and we're having to do this all the time atm due to shortages, its a nightmare. But definitely not pharmacists fault so please bear with them.

Octavia64 · 20/06/2024 15:49

I've had to drive around in the past as places don't always have stuff.

We've had problems getting thyroid and adhd meds.

Yes it is now (fairly) normal in England.

KrisAkabusi · 20/06/2024 15:49

I'm used to walking out the doc straight into the pharmacy and getting the medication but I'm from Dublin. Seems very different here?

The Irish health system has its problems, but the nhs is on its knees now in comparison, at least if you read mum's net.

FlabMonsterIsDietingAgain · 20/06/2024 15:50

If it's not a repeat prescription then I've always just taken it in and had it filled on the day, sometimes takes up to 30 minutes so I usually use the pharmacy in the supermarket and drop it, do a shop then pick it up.

It would be ridiculous to be prescribed antibiotics or pain relief for an immediate issue and have to wait a week for the prescription.

Can you ask them to handover the prescription so you can take it elsewhere?

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 15:52

@MooseBreath that's terrible. I was quite shocked to be honest. I'm lucky we are hardly ever sick. It's been ages since we needed a doc. I mean is that really the case now. Suppose you had a strep throat or chest infection or gout or anything really. It's effectively a week. 2 days for doctor to send it to pharmacy. Then 5 working days. It doesn't need to be mixed or anything's just comes off the shelf. What's going on!!!

OP posts:
allmycats · 20/06/2024 15:52

Here I ask at docs in the morning and the tax goes to pharmacy same day. Next day pharmacy message to say ready to pick up. When I lived in West Meath doctors sent a 6 month extra to pharmacy, I would go into pharmacy and ask for meds and it was ready within 30 mins.

purplehue · 20/06/2024 15:53

I usually pick up the prescription from the gp surgery and then take it to the chemist. It's much quicker as can take a couple of days if they have to take it. Then they tell me straight away if they have it or if not it's ordered in for the next day. 5 days is way too long!!!

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 15:54

Bigcoatlady · 20/06/2024 15:49

No thats not normal for an emergency prescription - had to take dd also home from uni for a script for antibiotics this week. Appt at 10, had collected script from pharmacy down the road by 10:20.

BUT we do have big med shortages on some odd things due to Brexit. Boots also has its own distributors because its so big. That's what she meant when she said no Boots will have it - she checked stock at the warehouse and they don't have it. If you take it to a different chemist they may have it in stock or can get it in faster.

IF they still can';t get it ask pharmacist what is available in same family of drugs then call GP to explain and ask if they can prescribe something similar. Pharmacists can only make up exactly drug prescribed so you'll need a new script.

I prescribe in MH and we're having to do this all the time atm due to shortages, its a nightmare. But definitely not pharmacists fault so please bear with them.

Yes but the issue isn't even that it's not in stock. The issue was that if I hadn't kicked up a fuss I would have gone away and come back 5 working days later. She only checked because I made a fuss and said she can't wait 5 working days. With weekend that would be next wed more than a week since we saw doc?

OP posts:
Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 15:55

Octavia64 · 20/06/2024 15:49

I've had to drive around in the past as places don't always have stuff.

We've had problems getting thyroid and adhd meds.

Yes it is now (fairly) normal in England.

That's not my point tho. I mean it is annoying. My point is having to wait 5 working days. She only checked cos I kicked off and said she needed the medication urgently

OP posts:
Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 15:57

FlabMonsterIsDietingAgain · 20/06/2024 15:50

If it's not a repeat prescription then I've always just taken it in and had it filled on the day, sometimes takes up to 30 minutes so I usually use the pharmacy in the supermarket and drop it, do a shop then pick it up.

It would be ridiculous to be prescribed antibiotics or pain relief for an immediate issue and have to wait a week for the prescription.

Can you ask them to handover the prescription so you can take it elsewhere?

That's what I thought too. I mean 5 days??? It took 2 days for the doc surgery to send it to the pharmacy . And then 5 more days. I think that's awful. Am scared to get sick here

OP posts:
Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 15:59

purplehue · 20/06/2024 15:53

I usually pick up the prescription from the gp surgery and then take it to the chemist. It's much quicker as can take a couple of days if they have to take it. Then they tell me straight away if they have it or if not it's ordered in for the next day. 5 days is way too long!!!

Yes I guess I am lucky we haven't needed the doctor for years thank god. I was on the call to doc with dd and she said "I'm sending this through to the pharmacy now" so like I assumed she was doing it there and the . The pharmacist laughed at me when I said that! Like I'm thick to believe that. I just took doc at her word. I guess to get to know the system if you use it a lot. I would have gone down and got it in person . Still would
Have to wait 5 days from then tho??

OP posts:
longdistanceclaraclara · 20/06/2024 16:00

5 days is ridiculous.

As an aside though you could buy OTC but I also wouldn't want to use HC on such a large area. If it's viral as diagnosed by the GP, it's not needed.

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 16:01

Bigcoatlady · 20/06/2024 15:54

Globally there are supply issues with a lot of meds. And because we're outside the EU we don't hae favourable access to imports which means the effects are amplified in the UK. Its costing the UK an arm and a leg and is a massive cost of Brexit

Yes I'm sure. It's the 5 day wait I was shocked by though. Not that it was out of stock. Or do you mean that is why there is five day wait so to give them time to order it. I tried phoning to see if it was ready but the phone just rings out. They don't have time to answer the phone she told me

OP posts:
Mrsdht · 20/06/2024 16:03

Sometimes things may just be out of stock and need ordered in like anything we get delivered to our homes. Was a time when a chemist made most things up in store...now they mainly buy them in. Pharmacist claims for these items and postage costs etc. But it does irk me when the doc sends an Eps to the chemist and they say oh it will be after lunch...4 hours...When it's just a packet of tablets off the shelf. I understand it needs gotten, checked and probably checked again but it all seems such a waste of time. Once had an argument in a Tesco pharmacy many moons ago with a dispenser while I was waiting for amoxycillin for a screaming child under 1 with an ear infection. I waited 30 minutes and said where's the medicine for the baby? They had been laughing and joking behind the counter while a big queue formed. She said it's very complex to sort out. It takes time. I said love, you put water in a bottle and shake it. I'm not stupid. Was done in 2 minutes after that.
I work for prescription services lol

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 16:03

longdistanceclaraclara · 20/06/2024 16:00

5 days is ridiculous.

As an aside though you could buy OTC but I also wouldn't want to use HC on such a large area. If it's viral as diagnosed by the GP, it's not needed.

Why did doc prescribe it then!
Lot of Mumsnet seem to know more than the doc. I
Wondering was she really a doctor now. Maybe just an assistant or whatever they are called

OP posts:
JustforAlice · 20/06/2024 16:03

Had tel consult with GP Monday am - needed more meds which are ‘unusual’ - he did the prescription and boots texted me tues afternoon to say they are ready.
HRT though I always order 3/4 weeks before I need it as shortages seem to be the norm.
in the south east.

Original poster
spanieleyes22 · 20/06/2024 16:07

Mrsdht · 20/06/2024 16:03

Sometimes things may just be out of stock and need ordered in like anything we get delivered to our homes. Was a time when a chemist made most things up in store...now they mainly buy them in. Pharmacist claims for these items and postage costs etc. But it does irk me when the doc sends an Eps to the chemist and they say oh it will be after lunch...4 hours...When it's just a packet of tablets off the shelf. I understand it needs gotten, checked and probably checked again but it all seems such a waste of time. Once had an argument in a Tesco pharmacy many moons ago with a dispenser while I was waiting for amoxycillin for a screaming child under 1 with an ear infection. I waited 30 minutes and said where's the medicine for the baby? They had been laughing and joking behind the counter while a big queue formed. She said it's very complex to sort out. It takes time. I said love, you put water in a bottle and shake it. I'm not stupid. Was done in 2 minutes after that.
I work for prescription services lol

Yeh but the thing is she didn't know it was out of stock . She just looked it up on her system and said it's not ready it will
Be ready in 5 days. Only when I made a fuss she said ok I'll have a look. Then she said I don't have it . I don't think this was a supply issue. It's ther protocol. Every script takes 5 days to prepare. That's before they even check its in stock or not

OP posts:
Theunamedcat · 20/06/2024 16:08

No I've literally walked out the Dr's today with a prescription and got it filled immediately ds had an ear infection the other week they sent it directly to our usual chemist and we collected same day the only reason I picked up today's on paper was because our usual chemist had tech issues so i asked for a paper one

Repeats we are being asked to give them a 7 day turn around but they are not taking that long usually