Do you have enough meds to get you through to January?

maddyone

My surgery and pharmacy are usually pretty quick, but there can be a problem if I order to early because the surgery will reject the request. This can be tricky if we’re going away, particularly if we’re going for a long time, as we are at the end of this week, when we’re going to visit our daughter in New Zealand for six weeks. I need to let the surgery know why I need more medications in that case to prevent it being refused.

If you are going to be out of the country for a period of time, I think your surgery will be OK with prescribing.

I once asked for a supply to cover a 4-week holiday abroad and they were happy to do it.

After all, how else are you supposed to get your medication!

I put my request in writing and handed it in to the surgery.

Bon voyage!

My surgery and pharmacy are usually pretty quick, but there can be a problem if I order to early because the surgery will reject the request. This can be tricky if we’re going away, particularly if we’re going for a long time, as we are at the end of this week, when we’re going to visit our daughter in New Zealand for six weeks. I need to let the surgery know why I need more medications in that case to prevent it being refused.

Georgesgran

Not a joke - but my hypochondriac friend had enough to last all of 2024!

Something very wrong there. What if we all had enough for a year?

Then we wonder why the NHS is in a mess!

I used to ring my GP to order repeat prescriptions but recently I have been ordering via the NHS app and life has just got a lot easier. I no longer have to hang on the phone waiting to speak to the receptionist being told how important my call is to them. On the NHS app all your current meds are shown and you simply need to tick those that are due for renewal. You can then check later to see if the prescription has been approved by the GP and if they are ready to be collected. I use a nearby Asda pharmacy and the whole process normally takes 2 to 3 days. I recommend anyone needing repeat prescriptions to try it it's one of the few things in life that has actually got easier.

As with many things, things have changed since Covid and Brexit (as was forecast). Used to order via Patient Access and get a text a couple of days later to collect from local chemist. Now it is at least a week, often nearer a fortnight. Sometimes it is an issue if I am going away around that time but so far I've just about coped. I once ordered some tablets from an on-line chemist. They ask a lot of questions and won't supply if you don't agree to them contacting your GP. I have always agreed and as far as I know they haven't contacted them but I've been given the tablets. Of course, it is not cheap, but sometimes needs must.

I order via Patient Access, pretty efficient, my quack approves them quickly. The chemist can be slow, so I have to make a diary note to order 2 weeks or a little more before I'm due to run out.

And though I could get them delivered, I'm still OK collecting them, usually on market day so that fits in.

All ordered you have to be pro active. 3 Days from ordering to pick up nice local pharmacy cannot do enough for the community.

My sympathies. Life’s difficult enough isn’t it?

Germanshepherdsmum

My doctor wouldn’t let me do that BlueBelle. I always have to wait a certain time before re-ordering - once they rejected the request because it was a little too early for their system but didn’t tell me, thank goodness for having sufficient in hand!

My surgery are exactly the same, despite it being Christmas!

I need to order another lot next week, because today was too early.

I collected mine today, but unfortunately, the pharmacy have been unable to get a hold of anti nausea meds and don't know when they will be available. 🤮

I got mine a week ago. My husband will get his next Wednesday.

I collected both our monthly supply yesterday.
Also have enough bird food GSM ✔️

I think I have - checked earlier

Yes, ordered them last week.

Our pharmacy orders DH and sends a text when they are ready.

I use an online pharmacy which reminds me to reorder well before I run out and contact the GP for approval. They usually arrive with the postie within 2 days.
Holidays are accounted for automatically.

My surgery and pharmacy are excellent.I ordered my prescription at 8pm Friday evening through Patient Access and got a message at 10 am on Saturday from the pharmacy saying it was ready for collection. Thay will deliver with 24 hours notice.
A pharmacist is always available to speak to if necessary.If you have a new medication the pharmacist will ring you after 10 or so days to see if there have been any reactions to the new medication.
I'm very happy with the service received from both my GP surgery and pharmacy.They sre situated about half a mile apart.

My doctor wouldn’t let me do that BlueBelle. I always have to wait a certain time before re-ordering - once they rejected the request because it was a little too early for their system but didn’t tell me, thank goodness for having sufficient in hand!

Collected mine today; a long queue!

Thank you for the reminder.

Forgot to book a blood test though! I must phone tomorrow.

I always ensure I put in a repeat prescription before any holiday periods and always have plent of paracetamol, Ibuprofen and medicated throat sweets in my cupboard.

I ordered two months worth this December

I tried to order mine in advance but was told that because I won’t run out until 25th Dec I couldn’t order early. So that was useful. . As a concession, they’re now allowing me to have them tomorrow - let’s hope the chemist will have in stock what I neeed, which is not always a given.

Otoh, they have given me something I didn’t even request! 🤷‍♀️

I use a delivery service, and they have been very efficient. My surgery only allows ordering when you are within X days of the last prescription, but as I have a couple of conditions that need medication, and these were diagnosed separately, I have to order twice a month, a few days apart. I thought the second lot would arrive after Christmas, but I got them about three days after ordering, which is much faster than usual.

The cut off date for our surgery was 10th December.