Who needs to sort this out?

[VigilanteShit]

I requested a repeat prescription for my oestrogen patches and progesterone tablets last week.
My gp rang me when I was at work to discuss it. She said that I had had 8 boxes of patches so couldn't have any more until March.
I hadn't had 8, only two. She told me there was nothing she could do because she couldn't prescribe me any more. The only thing she could suggest was getting the chemist to cancel the prescription so she could reissue. She would email the chemist and ask them.
I rang the chemist and spoke to them. They've said that they gave me two because that's all they had and they owed me the rest but because of the brand they couldn't fulfill the prescription. They also couldn't cancel it because they had issued part of it.
Thing is they never told me that they owed me any. The previous prescription had only been two due to an issue with my gp not changing the amount her end so getting two was normal although I had spoken to the receptionist at the gps twice to try and get the amount increased.
The doctor has 'completed' the online request and not got back to me despite me telling her that I was one week away from being out of the medication and suicidal before I started it.
But what do I do? Who do I speak to?
I ended up getting a different brand through my private clinic but I've had to pay a lot to get it which I don't think is right.
Anyone any advice?

There are a lot of HRT shortages around at the moment.

I think this lies with the gp surgery; my gp has a pharmacist working in the surgery who handles these issues - she tracked down HRT for me and arranged prescriptions when my regular gp couldn’t.

I would ask the chemist to tell the doctor they only partially filled it, then get another prescription in your hand so you can go to different chemists and only hand it over if they can fipulfill. I am owed some from 16th December and it still hasn't come in. I went yesterday to check. Next time I will get the script in person rather than having it sent to the chemist

Pharmacist can speak to GP and explain then the GP can reissue a prescription for six boxes in a different brand that they have in stock.

The doctor basically told me that there was nothing she could do until March. That she couldn't do anything about it because of the way the system works.
I hate confrontation and I hate speaking on the phone so I need to sort this but I'm dreading it.

It sounds like it's the pharmacy that owe you medication. Your GP is reluctant to give you a prescription for more as she's already prescribed you 8 boxes.

Even if she gave you a new prescription the chemist still wouldn't have them for you? I guess then you would at least have the option to try a variety of pharmacies.

It's pretty poor your pharmacy didn't tell you they could only part fill your prescription. If you'd known it might've been better for you to try and get the whole lot elsewhere (although with supply issues that might not have been possible).

Hope you get it sorted

My GP said the exact same to me when I had the same issue but for non-HRT meds. I take daily medication for an organ transplant that my body would reject without the required meds. Even then my gp couldn't prescribe more as she would technically have been over-prescribing medication.

It's sucks but it's highly regulated and I imagine the gp's hands are tied.

@nc1013 that's disgusting. I was kind of assuming that if it was meds for something life threatening then they'd sort it but because it's 'just' hrt it's deemed as not important. I'm sorry that you've had that. It's so wrong.

@VigilanteShit it did get sorted in the end but was quite complicated. I think if GPs over prescribe something and someone was mis-using then they'd be partly responsible

Some common sense would suggest nobody has any interest in over-using immunosuppressants or hrt but it's as if it's one set of rules regardless

I get my prescription from my local boots. In the end they called round different branches of boots' pharmacies and I was able to collect elsewhere as they could share the prescription. Is that an option for the pharmacy you use?

Ok so this is a little bit strange! I've been to pick up my progesterone and another long term medication I'm on and whilst the assistant was dealing with my payment I called the pharmacist over to ask her what I was supposed to do. She was a different one to the one I spoke to on the phone so I explained it all to her and asked her if she knew what I was supposed to do. She was puzzled to and went to speak to a colleague. They came out after some time with a prescription for me from the 28th December. Strangely not used and also not sent back which they are after four weeks. Somehow, despite it being past the four week deadline it was still with them. On top of that it hadn't been used at all so no issue with cancelling it so that the gp could prescribe another brand. I checked what they had in and thanked them for their help. So now I'm confused as to what the other pharmacist looked at, Confused as to why it was still there and relieved that I can ring my gp tomorrow and sort out the new prescription!
Thanks all for your input,

The second assistant did make me laugh when she said (about the shortage) if it was penis problems it would be sorted much quicker!
Before anyone takes offence I've known her for years, we used to live round the corner and it's like a little village in a town so we were in all the time when my children were small! I'd walk in, exhausted and she would sit me down, take the baby and keep her occupied for a bit whilst I had a second to myself! She's wonderful.

Glad you got it sorted anyway, that's the main thing!

Thank you so much, likewise! I think boots do an online checker now for meds so that's worth checking out if you need to. I don't think anyone can get hold of the Estradot at the moment though x

Estradot shortages are driving me mad - emailed the manufacturer who said there are no shortages and they’re supplying the wholesale market and suggest pharmacies contact them direct if they can’t source. It’s mad! I recall before Christmas with antibiotics for children with prices going through the roof - is this happening with HRT I wonder due to demand and the pharmacies are actually refusing to buy as they’re losing money. Wish someone could honestly find out what is going on with the constant supply issues with HRT. It’s beyond stressful.

It's is odd because the private clinic can't get hold of any either and they are normally pretty good at sourcing stuff.

I'm sure that there has been a recent change in the rules, caused by the shortage of HRT, that allows the pharmacy to dispense the same drug in a different form. So for example, if you are prescribed Estradot 50, but the pharmacy does not have it, they can give give you 2 lots of Evorel 25.

Of course the GP cannot just hand out more of the medication only 2 months into a 6 month prescription, but they can check with the pharmacist to confirm that the rest has not been supplied. Whether the GP calls the pharmacist, or the other way around, this should be done.