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AIBU?

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Original poster

Is this the norm now re GPs/prescriptions

55 replies

Nosejobnelly · 27/02/2026 20:05

I’m on medication which I take 2 x a day. I’m under consultant care but the prescription is managed by the GP and should be able to request repeats using the NHS App.

Was going to request on Monday as I meds run out today. Looked at the App and it said I could t request at that time.

My GP’s prescription line is only open for one hour a day, so in Tues I call them - I have to do a pointless e-consult and get an automated email to say I’ll hear back by 6.30om on Weds - maybe the Dr will send a text to say it’s been sent to the pharmacy or wants to discuss an aspect of my meds.

No contact from GP at all so I call yesterday morning. I’m getting a bit concerned now but Receptionist says the request is with the Dr and I should get a text that afternoon or today. Nope!

Now I’m getting really worried so I pop in to pharmacy in my way out this afternoon. Wasn’t on my way but no issue, left more time to get to my destination- speak to the pharmacist- she said my surgery takes 5 days to process a prescription (although Receptionist said 3). Thankfully she took pity on me and issued me an emergency prescription for 4 days, so I’m covered. I even told the Receptionist I run out today so as far as they know i didn’t get my meds in time.

I have been thinking of changing surgeries for a while but idk if that more hassle! My DD changed to the possible new one from her old uni GP and it seems to be taking ages to go through (ironically she requested her meds this morning from her old uni GP as she’s still registered there and they’re ready to collect already!).

If I was old/infirm/working somewhere I couldn’t make/receive calls easily I wouldn’t be able to be so proactive. What do people do in these situations?

OP posts:
MrsCarmelaSoprano · 27/02/2026 20:09

The app should tell you what date you can order new meds,does it not ?

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 27/02/2026 20:22

That's not how it works for me. When I'm down to a week or two of pills left I use the NHS app to order the refill. My GP approves them in a couple of days (weekends excepted) and I just keep an eye on the app to see when they've been approved. Once that's done my local pharmacy prefers to have a day or two to get it ready before I pop in to collect it but they can do it asap if it's urgent.

That being said the medication I'm on has been the same for a while now so it's rare that it needs to be checked. Other medications might need more careful monitoring by the GP.

Octavia64 · 27/02/2026 20:24

I have similar problems with the nhs app.

I’m in a lot of meds (physically disabled) and the app doesn’t let me order all if them at once and in fact if I relied on the app I’d run out.

i hand in paper repeat requests now. I have found it’s the most effective way.

I did do phone calls but the error rate was very high.

mindutopia · 27/02/2026 20:24

I use an online pharmacy (Pharmacy2U, which was formerly Lloyd’s pharmacy). I don’t use the NHS app at all. I order via the online pharmacy and they sort everything via the GP. It’s usually approved within 24 hours and turns up in the post within 3 days of submitting the request. I would try an online pharmacy first to see if that speeds up the process when you remove yourself from doing all the chasing.

Imlyingandthatsthetruth · 27/02/2026 20:30

Possibly different surgeries can interface with the NHS app in different ways, but for us it's just as GasperyJacquesRoberts said: request a new prescription on the app when getting low, dr approves it, usually day or two later, and they're ready at the chemist straight away.

If your surgery is different to this it sounds pretty crap, hopefully most aren't.

Octavia64 · 27/02/2026 20:31

gp’s vary in how good they are at coping with online pharmacies.

my DD’s gp in Newcastle is great - fully hooked in and she can send repeat requests via the pharmacy.

i live in east Anglia in the middle of nowhere and my gp has never heard of online pharmacies and has no idea if how to sort it.

Imlyingandthatsthetruth · 27/02/2026 20:33

Octavia64 · 27/02/2026 20:31

gp’s vary in how good they are at coping with online pharmacies.

my DD’s gp in Newcastle is great - fully hooked in and she can send repeat requests via the pharmacy.

i live in east Anglia in the middle of nowhere and my gp has never heard of online pharmacies and has no idea if how to sort it.

Don't think the OPs issue is about online pharmacies though?

Tableforjoan · 27/02/2026 20:36

My gp and pharmacy is really good pretty much same Day every time. The pharmacy if they don’t have the meds it’s always next morning.

My dad’s however is terrible. The gp take up to 5 days and the pharmacy also seem to add a week. God knows what they do if you need antibiotics at the pharmacy.

catipuss · 27/02/2026 20:37

I just email my DH repeat prescriptions to the gp and they go to the pharmacy for collection, no problem.

Escapaid · 27/02/2026 20:45

mindutopia · 27/02/2026 20:24

I use an online pharmacy (Pharmacy2U, which was formerly Lloyd’s pharmacy). I don’t use the NHS app at all. I order via the online pharmacy and they sort everything via the GP. It’s usually approved within 24 hours and turns up in the post within 3 days of submitting the request. I would try an online pharmacy first to see if that speeds up the process when you remove yourself from doing all the chasing.

I agree that Pharmacy2U are good. If I recall correctly, they will also send reminder emails when it's time to re-order.

Original poster
Nosejobnelly · 27/02/2026 21:09

MrsCarmelaSoprano · 27/02/2026 20:09

The app should tell you what date you can order new meds,does it not ?

It says nothing!

OP posts:
Original poster
Nosejobnelly · 27/02/2026 21:11

GasperyJacquesRoberts · 27/02/2026 20:22

That's not how it works for me. When I'm down to a week or two of pills left I use the NHS app to order the refill. My GP approves them in a couple of days (weekends excepted) and I just keep an eye on the app to see when they've been approved. Once that's done my local pharmacy prefers to have a day or two to get it ready before I pop in to collect it but they can do it asap if it's urgent.

That being said the medication I'm on has been the same for a while now so it's rare that it needs to be checked. Other medications might need more careful monitoring by the GP.

I definitely ordered it before in the app - it should be on repeat (the dose was increased in December so shouldn’t need a review yet).

OP posts:
Original poster
Nosejobnelly · 27/02/2026 21:12

Octavia64 · 27/02/2026 20:24

I have similar problems with the nhs app.

I’m in a lot of meds (physically disabled) and the app doesn’t let me order all if them at once and in fact if I relied on the app I’d run out.

i hand in paper repeat requests now. I have found it’s the most effective way.

I did do phone calls but the error rate was very high.

That’s how it used to be. Paper requests. Much easier and you don’t have a whole pointless e consult form to complete.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nosejobnelly · 27/02/2026 21:13

mindutopia · 27/02/2026 20:24

I use an online pharmacy (Pharmacy2U, which was formerly Lloyd’s pharmacy). I don’t use the NHS app at all. I order via the online pharmacy and they sort everything via the GP. It’s usually approved within 24 hours and turns up in the post within 3 days of submitting the request. I would try an online pharmacy first to see if that speeds up the process when you remove yourself from doing all the chasing.

Interesting- I’ll look in to it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nosejobnelly · 27/02/2026 21:15

Imlyingandthatsthetruth · 27/02/2026 20:30

Possibly different surgeries can interface with the NHS app in different ways, but for us it's just as GasperyJacquesRoberts said: request a new prescription on the app when getting low, dr approves it, usually day or two later, and they're ready at the chemist straight away.

If your surgery is different to this it sounds pretty crap, hopefully most aren't.

i don’t know why it wasn’t on the app. My DD says that if they need to do a review, her surgery will let her know pre having to request a repeat.

OP posts:
Original poster
Nosejobnelly · 27/02/2026 21:16

Octavia64 · 27/02/2026 20:31

gp’s vary in how good they are at coping with online pharmacies.

my DD’s gp in Newcastle is great - fully hooked in and she can send repeat requests via the pharmacy.

i live in east Anglia in the middle of nowhere and my gp has never heard of online pharmacies and has no idea if how to sort it.

I live in London so you would think they’d be in the ball!

OP posts:
BlueSkyClouds26 · 27/02/2026 21:16

It sounds like it's an issue specific to thw med - not on repeat due to some admin issue or needing you to submit some readings.

I've got multiple scripts on repeat - usually I give 5 days notice through the app. I hear the frustration though.

Original poster
Nosejobnelly · 27/02/2026 21:17

Tableforjoan · 27/02/2026 20:36

My gp and pharmacy is really good pretty much same Day every time. The pharmacy if they don’t have the meds it’s always next morning.

My dad’s however is terrible. The gp take up to 5 days and the pharmacy also seem to add a week. God knows what they do if you need antibiotics at the pharmacy.

5 days here ATM according to the pharmacy. It’s crazy.

OP posts:
Chinsupmeloves · 27/02/2026 21:17

Does the surgery have a link for repeat subscriptions? That's what I use as direct rather than forwarded to the NHS app. Xx

madnessitellyou · 27/02/2026 21:18

I also use Pharmacy2U, never had any issues and have used them for years. My GP is great but after I ran out of medication for the third time because they kept saying the prescription was being sent to the local pharmacy but it simply wasn’t, I switched to them. I get a text when it’s time for my prescription and when I reach the point of needing a review, I get another text telling me to contact the doctor.

Silverbirchleaf · 27/02/2026 21:24

As a former prescription clerk, please DO Not leave it to the day you run before ordering meds. We used to say that the surgery had a 48 hour time period to process the prescription request, and then the pharmacy needs a further 48 hours. So that’s a minimum of four days, and it can be longer.

Also, people mention the online pharmacies such as P2U. When you send the request to them, the online pharmacy then sends the request to the GP surgery who process the request, and then it gets sent back to the online pharmacy, who then gets it sent to the patient.

Pharmacies can do antibiotics on the day they’ve been issued, but routine prescriptions can take longer.

MrsLizzieDarcy · 27/02/2026 21:27

We use a rural GP surgery and they staff a pharmacy on site as the nearest one otherwise is about 10 miles either direction. They're very good and when you collect your prescription, they leave the next prescription stapled to the bag and if you ask, they put it into the diary for the next month. So we rarely run out.

It is a bit of a nightmare with DH's medication though as the cardiologist recently changed his dosages following a private review but this didn't make it onto his NHS notes so we've had a bit of stress of not having enough tablets for nearly a week. The system works well with what the GP prescribes, not with outside sources.

KatyMac · 27/02/2026 21:33

@Silverbirchleaf its all very well saying that but at our surgery there is a date you are allowed to order from and for my hrt & thyroxine its exactly 5 days before the date i run out

So if for any reason I can't get to the pharmacy (chronic illness).or im a day late ordering (brain fog) there is no flexibility its a nightmare for me

MrsCarmelaSoprano · 27/02/2026 21:35

Nosejobnelly · 27/02/2026 21:09

It says nothing!

Show quote history

Actually just realised I don't order from the NHS app,I order from the GP surgery on line and that tells me when I can order more.

Youcunnyfunt · 27/02/2026 21:40

My surgery is nightmare, I’ve had up to 4 months before to get a routine bog standard prescription. Seriously considering leaving. They’ve also rejected 4 requests for GP appointments since late 2025 and I ended up in A&E the other weekend. Totally useless.