What am I supposed to do about having no medication?

[sugaryouth1]

I am asthmatic. Since covid all my reviews have been online via a chat bot messaging. If anything flags up the nurse calls. 6 months ago I received an email saying that I needed a face to face review. No problem. I booked one. It got cancelled. There is one asthma nurse for 2 practices in my area. I rebooked it..it got cancelled again. I noticed when I tried to order my medication it said I needed a review. I rang the doctor surgery who said to pop a note in the box for additional info and that my review was booked which could be seen on the system. It got cancelled a third time.

Now I may seem as being difficult but I work shifts and I've booked 3 days off work for the appointment to be cancelled. I work random shifts and as you can see from my history I am recently single as well so every penny literally counts.

So yesterday I tried to order my medication and it refused to let me..so I rang the gp surgery and they said the next asthma appointments wasn't until the end of November and I cannot have any more medication until this review. I explained the situation and the cancellation and she stated that there was nothing she could do and I should have booked it sooner. Again I explained the appointment was cancelled by them 3 times. Not me..I have the texts stating this.
So 2 issues

One: I have no inhalers..Well not enough to the end of November
Two: I really have no faith this appointment will even go thru and am reluctant to waste more annual leave on a day wasted
Help?

call the surgery and ask to speak to the practice manager.

ir make a gp appointment. they may not be able to do an asthma review but can prescribe.

I would email the practice manager to complain. Explain that you appreciate that the review may have been cancelled due to circumstances outside of their control but the situation as it is now needs to be rectified as soon as possible.

or see a private gp. costs money but might be cheaper than losing a day's pay if you have to take a day off for an appointment.

I will get paid for the day off work..I'm using my annual holiday allowance but I've used 3 already for this appointment and I would like to save some to do something else.

A private gp appointment isn't affordable. Every penny literally counts right now

Once we ran out of dd2’s medication and the pharmacy advised us to call 111 as they would be able to issue an emergency prescription - in the end they actually found her medication so I don’t know how it actually works or if it’s possible but it might be worth a go, might be different as they said you couldn’t have any more until the review but they can’t leave you without an inhaler surely?

But it online next day delivery

onlinedoctor.superdrug.com/asthma-treatment-start1.html?gad=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw38SoBhB6EiwA8EQVLkAVUqEDTZz2z58DK6EKIvMibUFj_JfxCHVoXEn1dY3FVNZ0zFiaRxoCA30QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

I've had some success complaining on the site Care Opinion - worth a try.

@TheChosenTwo I might try 111. My last appointment was cancelled at the beginning of August and I didn't rebook it which I take full credit for but it had also been cancelled 3 times now at this point. Plus with all the issues at home which you can see in my post history I completely forgot. Its getting cold now..the weather's changing and I'm already chesty and wheezy in the cold anyway.

Speak to the practice manager and complain. That’s outrageous.

As above I also think you should email the practice manager, clearly stating when the three appointments were booked, dates they were booked for and when they were cancelled by the surgery. Again as above say that it may not have been within their control but THEIR actions have serious consequences on your health. If they don't resolve it straightaway ask for the complaints procedure to see where you go from there. I would also leave a comprehensive review online and email cqc.

Is there a pharmacy next to the doctors? If you take your previous prescription in and explain, they may help, tend to have more understanding than the reception.

This sounds so familiar, just what my husband has been through.
I think 111 is the answer, there is an option for repeat meds when you call. Good luck...