To be pissed off with doctor's receptionist...

[BlaDeBla]

Jobsworth, jobsworth, jobsworth. I'm pretty fed up that they only do prescriptions that last a month, meaning that I have to worry about running out of drugs every 3 weeks. I also have to make 2 trips to the surgery, one with the repeat script and another to pick up a load of drugs. They need to see my NHS exemption card EVERY time I go, and demand my national insurance number.

I have never been treated with such mistrust in my life, especially by a doctor. In the best of all worlds, I would prefer to change to a doctor who's receptionists behaved with a little more humanity. I am bloody furious with their mad system and appalling staff.

Oh my god! I don't want to sound like a big know it all but....

I am a practice manager in a GP surgery - I have never heard of any reason why anyone would need to see your NI number in order to get a prescription. Also, alot of places now have online ordering of medication or at least the option to fax/email it.

They sound rubbish and unhlepful. If you can't change to another practie, I would try asking the doctor direct if he can give you more medication in one go - lots will be happy to give 3 months as long as it's not something you need to be regularly reviewed for.

Come and register with my pracitce - we are lovely and helpful and not at all jobsworth!!!

Why dont you chnage your GP's?

I changed mine about 18months ago- new one is fab

Mine has an email address or fax number you can use to request repeats.

Actually I have just signed up to the Boots prescription service, they order, collect the script and prescribe the drugs, all you have to do is turn up on the date they tell you (they give you a card as a reminder). I like my doctor but it's 2 x 15 mins bus rides away and Boots is just round the corner from my work so this works fab for me.

Have never had to give my NI number, just confirm my address and flash my exemption card....

Local pharmacies usually provide a service where you give them your repeat script and they give to the doctor and collect drugs a couple of days later. Would this be easier.

Otherwise, yeah, I don't think I'd put up with it either.

I phone the surgery, they sort the repeat prescription and send it to the chemist, the chemist fills it out and it is delivered to me.

Suggest you phone a couple of local chemists and see if any of them have repeat prescription services.

Alternatively speak to Practice Manager and see if it's actually policy or just cussedness, and if it is policy, whether they would consider making an exception in your case. If they really won't, unless your GP is outstanding, may be worth looking into switching surgeries.

My doc's receptionist went to a special how-to-be-bossy-and-unhelpful school to train her up.
Convinced of it.

I would love it if they gave scripts for 3 months! They say they can do 2 months at a time but you have to pay for each month separately. I am on medication for life, so it could end up being pretty expensive and a bloody pain. I will find out about other gps but I don't think it will be all that easy since we don't live in town.

The receptionist at my gp practice can diagnose over the phone without even knowing what symptoms you have. Don't know why they bother with the doctors!!

bladebla, get a prescription pre payment certificate, it works out at £11 per month IIRC and covers all your prescriptions for a year.. i have one as i have two long term health conditions and need various differnt meds

To be fair to the receptionists, they are just doing their job. It won't be them who have decided the one month prescription rule, and they'll have been told they must check NI numbers and cards. Maybe they're fed up with having to deal with the fall out from patients who are annoyed at the system.

pmsl @ kiddiz - you must be at the same practice as me.

The gp practice I used to go to would only give me 1 months supply of medication at a time. They claimed it was for patient safety?? I do not pay for my meds as I have an exemption certificate.

Moved house, changed gp practice. My new practice are happy to give me 2 months supply, no problem. Chase me up if I have problems with blood results etc. Are able to give me an appointment, no problem.

Do not put up with crap treatment. Change your gp practice.

OP.... Why would it cost you a fortune if you have an exemption certificate ??

There are so many receptionists like this around the world. Tell your GP that you are unhappy and tell him/her you might change doctors. This will prpbably sort it out, if not then change GP.

Oldraver - well spotted!

Exemption certificates are temporary.

I have spoken to a friend who is a gp, who says it's stupid to give people one month presciptions if they are on long term medication and under the care of a consultant. He says it adds to the workload and there is no point.

He said that there is a lot of government pressure though. There is a lot of government pressure to do a lot of stupid things.

Have a word with your GP directly (either as booked appointment or a phone consultation) and ask if you can have 2 or 3 months prescribed each time. I would do so for a patient in your situation.

There are good reasons to only give people 1 month's drugs at a time (stops people hoarding and over-ordering, helps us keep track of what they are taking and how often things are being requested and encourages us to review patients' medication regularly), however there are exceptions to every rule.

Checking your NI number and exeption certificate is unnecessary and bonkers.

Our receptionists are great and do a fab job, often with some very trying patients and I have a huge amount of appreciation and respect for them. I couldn't ever do their job as well as they do.

Ohh I'm not even going to go there! Mine is just as crap, with bloody nosey receptionists who want to know why you need to see the DR She didn't book my appt on the system so I had to wait another 2 days, on top of the 5 days I had already waited to see the DR. A bloody week for an appt. Then the cheeky mare said that I couldn't talk to the DR about more than 1 thing at a time even though they were all minor problems

Kiddiz I think we have the same GP! LOL