Shortages, do I want to go to a local independent pharmacy or Boots (or other large chain)?

[CredibilityProblem]

Planning to start on HRT and not sure which of our local pharmacies to nominate, given the reported shortages.

Local independent pharmacy is lovely and much closer but I have had problems in the past with some more obscure medication, and have needed to go to the big Boots a little further away.

What's your experience?

Do you have to nominate any? Can't you collect a paper prescription and take it anywhere?

You know that literally hadn't occurred to me. It's been years since I had a paper prescription I my hand.

Or maybe it's just brain fog...

A lot of surgeries don’t give out paper prescriptions any more. However, you can get a ‘Prescription token number’, which works in a similar way in that you give this to the pharmacy, and they can access the prescription.

I would just link your nearest and easiest pharmacy to your online prescription ordering. If that pharmacy occasionally doesn't have stock they will usually order it in, if not ask them to print out the prescription at the chemist and take it to boots or wherever.

Independent might have more luck with HRT than Boots, they generally use Phoenix as a wholesaler rather than AAH or Alliance, and Phoenix has had much better supplies of Oestrogel. Lenzetto (the oestrogen spray) has also come back into stock at AAH (Lloyd's pharmacies) last week, but the Sandrena sachets havent been available for me to order for weeks!

I use an Independent, not had a problem.
The lady ticks my repeat and I just go collect when I need it.

If Gp can issue a generic script the pharmacy can give you what they have as there's been a special dispensation thingy started.

For some reason mine can't so have to specify. I had a 3 mo prescription but could only get one box (estradot) in Asda after phoning around.

No more has arrived yet so I've asked my usual pharmacy (boots) what they have in and have asked the Gp to issue a script for that brand (Everol), cancelling their other one.

Estradot seems v limited at the mo; I couldn't even see anything on online pharmacies.

I'd actually ask the pharmacy what they are finding the easiest to get or have in on the shelf then specify to the Gp.

Boots have managed to get my Oestrogel, so I've stuck with them.

If Gp can issue a generic script the pharmacy can give you what they have as there's been a special dispensation thingy started @WarriorN

I think it works the other way round.

Your GP gives you what you normally have, but the pharmacist has the authority now to give an alternative. So if you use transdermal, they will give you another option of the same dose.

So, if you normally get gel, the pharmacist can offer that, or another brand (Sandrena) or Lenzetto spray , or patches of the same dose.

I thought it was like that Jingling but it appears it's not - unless my local pharmacies aren't following the rules properly?

I had a script for estradot and she was going to give me everol under new guidance till the head pharmacist said to ask for a generic script. Which the Gp said they couldn't do...

I currently have 2 weeks left of one box out of 3 I managed to get and left a message with the practise yesterday to ask if it could be switched to everol. I couldn't even find estradot on online pharmacies despite the BMA saying it's all in stock.

The new guidance for pharmacists said they could offer a substitution which meant a near-identical type and dose.
This was to avoid women having to contact their GP, the GP would offer another type and by the time the woman got the script and went to the pharmacy, that type too would be out of stock.

Yes, I am sure your GO could write' Transdermal estradiol 1mgs' but I think your pharmacy is being awkward and not following the guidance.

I can’t speak for HRT but DH has some fairly vital meds that have been hard to come by and we’ve had the most success at a local independent. In fact, it was our GP surgery that pointed us in their direction when we spoke to them about the problems we were having so perhaps your GP might know which of your local pharmacies are more successful with finding the more elusive stuff.

Best of luck, it’s really stressful.

@JinglingHellsBells I looked it up; there's a list of products and patches aren't part of the ssp. Annoyingly!

Estradot seems to be out of stock everywhere so I'm asking Gp for everol.

Yes, I am sure your GO could write' Transdermal estradiol 1mgs' but I think your pharmacy is being awkward and not following the guidance.

it's the Gp practice system (a city wide thing) being awkward and couldn't do that. The pharmacist pointed out when I rang her that patches weren't listed. Gah!

Hi op I didnt have much luck. Evorel no Estradot due in. My patches arent great demestrial. Wont stick. Went back today thats all she has. Trying a new box. Sigh