Bloody doctor's receptionists.

Rubylady I don't mean to interfere but if you are so reliant on ventolin ( which is a reliever not preventer) do you think you should perhaps be on a stronger steroid type inhaler? Sorry, none of my business really, but as a long term asthma sufferer myself I have two inhalers and only use the ventolin as backup if needed.

You can now breathe more easily..... pun intended

Thank you all, luckily I have found another inhaler in the drawers in the bathroom which I didn't know was there but is still in date. But the receptionist didn't know that, did she? Don't worry, if that was the case I would have been seeing someone tonight to get another.

Ruby I reiterate what previous posters have said.
Ring first thing on Monday morning and if inhaler is not to be available on Monday as for an emergency telephone appointment with Dr. Your script for signature is likely to be in a pile for the Dr who is doing the signing that day. It would be helpful if a considerate receptionist pulled it out and asked a passing Dr to sign it, which should be no problem if it is on repeat.

Our vet would have produced the Tramadol (for Grace, of course!) within a matter of hours.
Better to be a dog sometimes ???

I'd use what *Luckygirl' said and ask receptionist if she a/feels qualified to take this medical decision and b/is prepared to take responsibility shouid you become unwell.

I agree that you should speak to the practice manager about this. Your inhaler could be a vital medication and it is not up to the receptionist to take what is basically a medical decision - i.e. that you can safely have 24 hours without this available to you.

We have a bit of a problem sometimes over our meds. We are given a date to pick up the next lot, but invariably we find that something is missing. I have taken to phoning beforehand before travelling the 12 or so miles only to have to go back again.

Ruby-I'd get back onto the practice and insist on having your inhaler for Monday. Does this silly woman realise that you could have an asthma attack without your reliever meds? Speak to the practice manager if necessary. It's not as if you just 'forgot'-you've had the most difficult of times. Hope you get it sorted out.

It is an excellent pain killer (had it for a few days after my knee replacement)- but is closely related to morphine and can create dependence- so the prescription going 'missing' is a serious matter.

I would ask to speak to the practice manager. It is concerning that a prescription for strong pain killers like Tramadol has been 'lost' - more likely to have been stolen, in house or not- so it is important to report this.

Gosh, that was a mess Coolgran. Whey can't they just think that just sometimes we have had enough and need cooperation and care. I'm glad you did get your tablets but it is a good job that you didn't run out and was in pain.

If I had spoken to the doctor he would have done it without any problem at all. He is lovely, it's just his henchmen (women) lol.

Two weeks ago yesterday I ordered 4 repeat prescription items on line from my doctor's practice. They were ordered early because I'm used to their inefficiency.
7 days later, last Friday, I phoned to make sure they were ready to collect, it was confirmed that they were, and I made my way the 10 miles to pick them up.
The prescriptions could not be found.
Yes, the computer showed them as ready but the paper script was lost.

Receptionist printed out another script but there was no doctor available to sign it. They were all on house calls.
It was agreed that once it was signed she would phone it through to my local pharmacy and post out the script, so I left.
Medical Receptionist phoned me 1 hour later, the script was signed and had been phoned through to the pharmacist however for one item (Tramadol slow release) the pharmacist had to have the actual script.
I went to the pharmacist and collected the other 3 items.

So, Receptionist would post the script out to me and I could then go to the pharmacy and collect the 4th item. All mail would be 2nd class and it wouldn't be posted until Monday as the outgoing mail had left for the day (Friday).
So we'd expect it to arrive on Wednesday.
No show on Wednesday.
No show on Thursday.
On Thursday afternoon I phoned the medical practice and spoke to the receptionist in question..... Oh so sorry, I forgot !! says receptionist. Admittedly she was very embarrassed and sorry. I'll post it today.
I asked for 1st class..... sorry.... our mail can only go second class.
I then asked for the Practice Manager.

All of a sudden they found a first class stamp and it was sent first class yesterday..... and my prescription for my 4th item arrived today. 8 days after I was told it was ready to collect.
This was my Slow Release pain relief.

I feel sorry for any person who is not in a position to chase up matters such as this, who may not just be on top of things, and who may assume the Medical Practice/Doctor knows that a drug is missing and thinks that the doctor has 'made a decision'.

The reason I don't change to my local medical practice is that I have been with my current one for 40+ years, my medical history is quite complicated and at long last I am on a medication regime that 'sort of works'. I don't want a new doctor to start and question my medication regime and mess it up.

Ruby if you use the same pharmacy regularly, if the pharmacist is familiar with you, is there any chance that you could be given your inhaler on the Monday, pending your prescription on the Tuesday. His computer would show your regular usage. Just a thought.

to you after an awful week.