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Original poster

Online prescription delivery service

26 replies

meltingmyhead · 16/07/2023 09:06

I'm looking to sign up to get my prescriptions delivered and hoping for some recommendations/ones to avoid please.

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 16/07/2023 09:09

I would recommend Pharmacy2U really good, easy, even picked a mistake up when I added the wrong date of birth.

Original poster
meltingmyhead · 16/07/2023 09:25

Thanks I'll take a look

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 16/07/2023 09:33

I've changed all of us from the local pharmacy, to Boots, then online to Pharmacy2U. The benefits are not queueing up to request it, being told it's not ready, then queuing up an hour later for it. The downside I guess is remembering to reply to emails to reorder?

BreeTown · 16/07/2023 09:33

Just be aware that if you ever go to the GP and they prescribe a one off prescription (ie antibiotics, a cream, etc) and you need it urgently make sure to point out to the GP that they need to send the script to your local pharmacy and not the online one!!

I used to work in a pharmacy and this happened every single time.
Patient had moved to online services. Ok, no problem.
Patient would come in to the local pharmacy saying GP sent electronically an urgent prescription for antibiotics. We would look and look and refresh our systems and no script to be found.
Meanwhile, patient jumping up and down raging and insisting GP sent the script. After looking at the tracker guess what..script gone to online pharmacy.
Cue patient raging some more phoning the online pharmacy. If the online pharmacy answered at least the matter was eventually sorted. If they didn't answer.... well...nothing your local pharmacy can do apart from send you back to your GP for a second prescription!

All in all your 10 min visit to pick up your urgent prescription can end up being an hour sometimes more.

Oh and another thing! I don't know if the nhs or whoever is responsible for the system fixed this BUT sometimes when the GP would eventually send again the urgent prescription they would nominate the local pharmacy as the preferred pharmacy. So from then onwards the usual patient prescriptions were sent to us in error instead of the online one!! So then more delays and headache for everyone involved!

Sometimes we would recognise the patient name and we would go "Didn't Mr so and so switch to XYZ online? This wasn't meant for us! Send the script back online!".
Other times we didn't notice so we would print out the prescription and prepare it only to find out a day or two later that we just wasted our time as we would get a phone call to cancel it.

All in all we hated online pharmacies 😂

Original poster
meltingmyhead · 16/07/2023 09:53

BreeTown · 16/07/2023 09:33

Just be aware that if you ever go to the GP and they prescribe a one off prescription (ie antibiotics, a cream, etc) and you need it urgently make sure to point out to the GP that they need to send the script to your local pharmacy and not the online one!!

I used to work in a pharmacy and this happened every single time.
Patient had moved to online services. Ok, no problem.
Patient would come in to the local pharmacy saying GP sent electronically an urgent prescription for antibiotics. We would look and look and refresh our systems and no script to be found.
Meanwhile, patient jumping up and down raging and insisting GP sent the script. After looking at the tracker guess what..script gone to online pharmacy.
Cue patient raging some more phoning the online pharmacy. If the online pharmacy answered at least the matter was eventually sorted. If they didn't answer.... well...nothing your local pharmacy can do apart from send you back to your GP for a second prescription!

All in all your 10 min visit to pick up your urgent prescription can end up being an hour sometimes more.

Oh and another thing! I don't know if the nhs or whoever is responsible for the system fixed this BUT sometimes when the GP would eventually send again the urgent prescription they would nominate the local pharmacy as the preferred pharmacy. So from then onwards the usual patient prescriptions were sent to us in error instead of the online one!! So then more delays and headache for everyone involved!

Sometimes we would recognise the patient name and we would go "Didn't Mr so and so switch to XYZ online? This wasn't meant for us! Send the script back online!".
Other times we didn't notice so we would print out the prescription and prepare it only to find out a day or two later that we just wasted our time as we would get a phone call to cancel it.

All in all we hated online pharmacies 😂

Thanks but I can't remember the last time I had a one off prescription, I will make sure I check if I do need one. I would prefer to use the local pharmacy but they can't cope and it is a nightmare trying to pick up my repeats.

OP posts:
Original poster
meltingmyhead · 16/07/2023 09:57

OneFrenchEgg · 16/07/2023 09:33

I've changed all of us from the local pharmacy, to Boots, then online to Pharmacy2U. The benefits are not queueing up to request it, being told it's not ready, then queuing up an hour later for it. The downside I guess is remembering to reply to emails to reorder?

All of this and they've started closing early randomly. Thanks for the recommendation.

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 16/07/2023 10:00

The one off thing is a good point, I chatted to our lovely GP receptionists and then followed up by email to say we went online but one off needed to be a scrip to take away rather than sent anywhere.
I just got so fed up every month for three people queuing. One is a high dose and every time I'd get asked about it, another is a controlled drug so I had to remember ID, and then the wait time - it was always having to queue and then go away for an hour.

CosyCoffee · 16/07/2023 10:03

I use the Lloyds online service, Echo pharmacy. No complaints.

TheDogsMother · 16/07/2023 10:07

I moved from Lloyds Direct as they seemed to have shortages all the time. I'm now with Boots and it works well.

BreeTown · 16/07/2023 10:08

OneFrenchEgg · 16/07/2023 10:00

The one off thing is a good point, I chatted to our lovely GP receptionists and then followed up by email to say we went online but one off needed to be a scrip to take away rather than sent anywhere.
I just got so fed up every month for three people queuing. One is a high dose and every time I'd get asked about it, another is a controlled drug so I had to remember ID, and then the wait time - it was always having to queue and then go away for an hour.

Yes, your safest bet if you need a one off prescription is to ask GP for a printed script rather than an electronic one. That way the pharmacy nomination doesn't get messed up.

Xrays · 16/07/2023 10:13

I use pharmacy2u for Ds prescriptions- but he only has two very uncomplicated ones (fexofenadine and melatonin). I won’t use them for myself because I have a lot of health issues and have 22 items on repeat and I know from the health groups I’m in that there are often problems with them sending equivalent brands which don’t actually work for my particular issue (one of the tablets I need to score into 4 and there’s only one brand that does this, even if you specify the brand - or the doctors do- they still send different ones) and often they’re out of stock of items. So it depends whether it’s worth that gamble to you. I like to be able to go in to Boots or wherever and have the option to actually speak to someone if there’s an issue.

The one time we did have an issue with pharmacy2u it was really difficult to get to speak to anyone and they were so unhelpful I just ended up speaking to my GP and reordering the whole prescription again, early. (It was horrible weather and they left the package on my front door in the rain and it was absolutely soaked through and the contents unusable and they wouldn’t resend it - I sent photos etc etc).

gogomoto · 16/07/2023 10:33

Depends on your prescription, dp's just doesn't turn up, tried 5 different ones. Back to fetching in person from whoever has it (we get it uploaded to the central spine so any pharmacy can fulfill.

Allthecatseverywhereallatonce · 16/07/2023 10:53

I use pharmacy2u and am very impressed. If I get an urgent or one off prescription the GP always asks if I want it sent to the local pharmacy. I like the reminder service to just reply yes and it's all sorted. I found pharmacies were so busy and often didn't have stock.
Pharmacy to you are able to get most medications and if they can't they let you and your GP know and often suggest an alternative that they know they have.

Doggymummar · 16/07/2023 10:54

I have used PHlo for several years, never a problem

vivaespanaole · 16/07/2023 13:05

I use a local one who deliver. Not a big chain. Possibly make enquiries locally.

YorkshireTeaCup · 16/07/2023 13:11

I use Lloyds Direct. Never had an issue but my prescriptions are fairly standard ones so no issues with shortages etc.

Our local pharmacy (Boots, small rural town) regularly has queues out of the door with elderly members of our community waiting for up to an hour to have their prescriptions filled, and when they get to the front of the queue, inevitably half the items are out of stock. I will never use them if i can avoid it.

Ohmylovejune · 16/07/2023 13:17

I use Pharmacy2u for my Dad's repeats. For urgent meds it's better to use the local pharmacy.

I've been using them for Dad for over a year now. Most of the time they get the prescription approved, items boxed and delivered within 8-10 working days. I always order at least 14 days before he needs them.

Occasionally one item is out of stock and an option is given to receive the others immediately whilst the other is waited for. On one occasion it took 12 working days to get 1 medication (the others we asked to be sent withoit waiting). That's the longest we've waited.

It works really well for us for repeats which we are on top of.

Ohmylovejune · 16/07/2023 13:24

We also.moved Dad online when he was walking 30m, each way, to wait outside for 40m to find he had to come back for some another day, same walk and same wait. It had happened a lot and he had suffered but on one occasion it was 30 degrees and they still only allowed 3 in at a time (well past covid this was 2022) and he felt really ill when he got home and would have to go back again to collect the rest. We couldn't see it would improve and then, in winter, when it would be cold and wet. So, sadly, we moved him.

It was done reluctantly because the pharmacy was fab during covid and would.deliver to his house. It wasn't their fault but as a result of lack of staff and drivers after covid, but at 81 he just couldn't continue with the system that it had become.

tobee · 16/07/2023 13:44

BreeTown · 16/07/2023 09:33

Just be aware that if you ever go to the GP and they prescribe a one off prescription (ie antibiotics, a cream, etc) and you need it urgently make sure to point out to the GP that they need to send the script to your local pharmacy and not the online one!!

I used to work in a pharmacy and this happened every single time.
Patient had moved to online services. Ok, no problem.
Patient would come in to the local pharmacy saying GP sent electronically an urgent prescription for antibiotics. We would look and look and refresh our systems and no script to be found.
Meanwhile, patient jumping up and down raging and insisting GP sent the script. After looking at the tracker guess what..script gone to online pharmacy.
Cue patient raging some more phoning the online pharmacy. If the online pharmacy answered at least the matter was eventually sorted. If they didn't answer.... well...nothing your local pharmacy can do apart from send you back to your GP for a second prescription!

All in all your 10 min visit to pick up your urgent prescription can end up being an hour sometimes more.

Oh and another thing! I don't know if the nhs or whoever is responsible for the system fixed this BUT sometimes when the GP would eventually send again the urgent prescription they would nominate the local pharmacy as the preferred pharmacy. So from then onwards the usual patient prescriptions were sent to us in error instead of the online one!! So then more delays and headache for everyone involved!

Sometimes we would recognise the patient name and we would go "Didn't Mr so and so switch to XYZ online? This wasn't meant for us! Send the script back online!".
Other times we didn't notice so we would print out the prescription and prepare it only to find out a day or two later that we just wasted our time as we would get a phone call to cancel it.

All in all we hated online pharmacies 😂

I had this happen!

However, it happened after I'd alerted the G.P!!

MarlinsSpike · 17/07/2023 07:28

I use Lloyds Direct. Great service so far as getting even an urgent prescription from local pharmacy involves queuing for at least half an hour, then being told to come back for the medication the next day as they're short staffed/too busy/med not in stock and need to order, etc.

Since signing up to online have only needed one urgent prescription and Lloyds Direct delivered it the next day.

gafferbell · 12/03/2025 09:28

Will boots deliver my prescription. It is every 2 weeks

gafferbell · 12/03/2025 09:29

Will boots deliver my prescription. It is due every 2 weeks

Somethingthecatdraggedin7 · 12/03/2025 09:41

BreeTown · 16/07/2023 09:33

Just be aware that if you ever go to the GP and they prescribe a one off prescription (ie antibiotics, a cream, etc) and you need it urgently make sure to point out to the GP that they need to send the script to your local pharmacy and not the online one!!

I used to work in a pharmacy and this happened every single time.
Patient had moved to online services. Ok, no problem.
Patient would come in to the local pharmacy saying GP sent electronically an urgent prescription for antibiotics. We would look and look and refresh our systems and no script to be found.
Meanwhile, patient jumping up and down raging and insisting GP sent the script. After looking at the tracker guess what..script gone to online pharmacy.
Cue patient raging some more phoning the online pharmacy. If the online pharmacy answered at least the matter was eventually sorted. If they didn't answer.... well...nothing your local pharmacy can do apart from send you back to your GP for a second prescription!

All in all your 10 min visit to pick up your urgent prescription can end up being an hour sometimes more.

Oh and another thing! I don't know if the nhs or whoever is responsible for the system fixed this BUT sometimes when the GP would eventually send again the urgent prescription they would nominate the local pharmacy as the preferred pharmacy. So from then onwards the usual patient prescriptions were sent to us in error instead of the online one!! So then more delays and headache for everyone involved!

Sometimes we would recognise the patient name and we would go "Didn't Mr so and so switch to XYZ online? This wasn't meant for us! Send the script back online!".
Other times we didn't notice so we would print out the prescription and prepare it only to find out a day or two later that we just wasted our time as we would get a phone call to cancel it.

All in all we hated online pharmacies 😂

Completely agree with this. All very well using an online pharmacy until something changes. Anyone can need a one off urgent px at anytime and then you are buggered.
Plus where we will all be if everyone moves to online and we have no local pharmacies left?
I use my local Boots who deliver my multiple prescriptions weekly.

sixtyandfabulousofcourse · 12/03/2025 10:37

Pharmacy2u is the best in my opinion. My Dr always ask if I want it to local pharmacy or Pharmacy2u if I do have a prescription not on my normal script. Pharmacy2u saves all the hassle and worry, they even get my oh injections to him on time carefully packed and now my daughter has signed up too, after a lot of mix ups and delays at her pharmacy. her tablets and her daughters need to be taken daily and if they are not available at the local pharmacy missing them can make them both ill. The pharmacy just said available in a week which is no good hence why they have now signed up

johnworf · 12/03/2025 10:42

I use Pharmacy2U. Never had a problem and they send me reminders when it's time to reorder.

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