If I had someone to collect it - I would be sending them!

Good point, Franski.

Dear Ferry. I hope the pain is easing. Glad you have a helpful cousin. Your post has made me think about how I can be a better neighbour.

Whilst I feel for you Ferry and totally understand your anger we who live alone have to have a back up plan
You haven’t lived there long so don’t know your neighbours it won’t help this time but I strongly urge you when you feel better to make an effort to introduce yourself and get to know some people around you

In this situation I would have rung and booked a taxi to collect your meds from the pharmacy yes it would have cost but necessary this time

Delivery is free for mine, they are clearly retired people earning a bob or two and I'm so very grateful, however it's a town and probably not long routes. but they don't do afternoons, you have to plan, ring and do some of the nudging at times as I said.

ferry you are in the same situation as me. Are we not the lucky ones to have 6 able - bodied young fellows living in our respective houses?

The last time somebody asked me that stupid question I said I have no relatives, they are all dead which is mostly true. I have 4 cousins in Ireland, not much help.

My pharmacy charges a fiver to deliver, I hope that is for the pack and not individual prescriptions.

Or a local carers agency might he able to help.
Just a thought.

You may find there are local volunteers who would do this for you.
Try age concern or your gps surgery.

Sorry you're having such a tough time of it ferry. Gout is agony. Just incase (hopefully not) you find yourself in a similar predicament you could ask a local taxi firm to pick it up for you.
Hope you feel better soon 💐

I haven't lived here long so I don't really know any of the neighbours well, certainly not well enough to ask for favours.

In the normal course of events I can get out and I get reminders to order to my normal medication in plenty of time.

This was a combination of the arthritis flare up, the onset of the gout, not being able to get out and needing a "one off" prescription.

When my cousin was in there collecting it there was someone else there complaining that they were leaving sick, elderly and vulnerable people without medication for 5 days without even informing them and that it's a poor show when they're running a vital service that people rely on. Should have hired a car/van for today and got it done.

Your hubby sounds lovely Harris27 - can I borrow him?

Other social media could be your friend here. Do you have a Facebook community page where you could put out an SOS for someone local to help?

I do understand your frustration but you also need a plan for yourself when other such emergency situations occur. Do you have neighbours or do you live somewhere remote ? If you do have neighbours or know anybody else who lives closeish, you need to put measures in place - exchanging phone numbers with several people so you always have someone you can call on. Or maybe you do and they are all out on this warm Saturday afternoon.

Have a lovely local chemist that does deliveries but sometimes they need a prompting for non regular/one off deliveries - I ring as soon as I know the prescription has gone through to check availability and when delivery.

My hubby delivers prescriptions as a part time job. He does two afternoons and delivers all till done. Some days he has far too many but never stops till they are all done. He says that they might be desperate for them and won’t leave anyone without. That’s why I love him so much.

So sorry you are in so much pain ferry23. Hope you feel better after getting your medication and having a vent on here! It is great you have such a wonderful cousin, Hope they have time when they deliver your meds for a cup of tea and a chat.

welbeck

Sorry to hear that.
No chance of asking a neighbour?

Yes, why not ask a neighbour?

welbeck

Sorry to hear that.
No chance of asking a neighbour?

No. otherwise I would have asked.

Sorry to hear that.
No chance of asking a neighbour?

Our lovely pharmacist would probably have delivered it himself as he did during lockdowns.

I'm sorry ferry23, they could have done better and have let you down.

I know it's no consolation but I have to get to a hospital 18 miles away to pick up my medication because they won't post it or deliver it to the local community hospital. Parking is hellish and it is a long trudge through the hospital to the department. Sometimes I wonder if they care or even think of the difficulties some people have to face.