Fed up with GP making it awkward to get repeat prescriptions

[Pringleface]

I had to have yet another argument with the surgery today over repeat prescriptions for HRT and I’m so done with it.

I get three months’ worth at a time and it’s rarely without some kind of argument. They won’t let you order repeat prescriptions for HRT online, you have to phone. Except the surgery has a policy of forcing people wanting repeat prescriptions to come in personally and fill in a form. So literally every time I call to order them, I get told I have to come in. I tell them actually, I’ve been told to phone and then there’s a load of back and forth and then I get the impatient, long suffering sigh and they stroppily tell me they’ll put it through this time only.

I have repeat prescriptions for a couple of other meds and there’s never any problem with those. Pop on the website, tick a box to order, bang, they’re in the pharmacy two days later. But HRT? No, let’s just make it as awkward as possible. I know there’s no answer here but I’m just so fed up with it.

That was exactly what happened to me. It was on the online system then just disappeared. I called to ask why and they said their policy was not to allow HRT to be ordered online but were unable to explain why, just repeating ‘it’s our policy’.

I asked when it had changed because I had in the past and they just said they didn’t know but it wasn’t possible. It was one of the most infuriating conversations ever. Eventually, I asked why they hadn’t communicated it to patients and I could pretty much hear the shrug.

I have to make a telephone appointment every 3 months with a nurse practitioner to get my Hrt. Which I’ve been on a year and nothing changes. I have to make sure I am organised as it takes ages for the pharmacy to get the oestrogel.

I've been on it for years now. Once a year I get asked what my BP is and I tell them over the phone as I've got a home monitor. I get a reminder through Boots when I need to renew my prescription, so I push the button and collect it a couple of days later.

Yes, it’s when they act like you’re crazy when you say you’ve been able to order it in the past. So rude.

I called the surgery back and it wasn't blood pressure at all - the nurse was confused as I'd been on patches, was prescribed gel before Christmas and am now back asking for patches again. Explained I didn't get on with the gel, and she said she'd put the prescription through to the chemist. Never mentioned blood pressure at all!