I think basic arithmetic has gone from everywhere. I ordered carrots on my shopping delivery, to avoid another plastic bag, I order loose ones, they come in a paper bag, the nearest I could order to a kg. was .98, isn't that a kg? the picker didn’t thing so, so they packed .50kg, looks like the car will have to be on the road for a bag of carrots.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
I have to physically request my monthly meds, via an on-line account we now have.( got it during lockdown). I fill it in and three days later I go to chemist and there it is ready for me. The GP surgery issue electronic scripts now.
Had the same problem. Down from 4 months to 28 days!! Pharmacy won't oblige without GP's say so. GP can't be contacted without getting past receptionist. Receptionist says appointment not available for a while.
But finally (and I've been on these meds for over 40 years), got to see GP. He told me that my lengthy prescriptions were costly. Each one was costing the NHS more, so it is better to show on his books a larger number of cheaper prescriptions, than a smaller number of expensive ones. It also shows that he is keeping control of his practice.
Whether or not that is the truth, I don't know, but I can see his logic.
We use pharmacy2u.co.uk, it's easy and it's FREE including delivery (for those that get their prescription free). I can't recommend them enough, we've had them a year now and it must have saved us a bob or 2 on petrol alone, not to mention hassle with the GP.
Apparently they get their money from the NHS for each prescription, and as they're cheaper than a 'normal' chemist the NHS encourage it.
Basically, you open an account (OH and I have one each), add your normal details address etc., then order your drugs. There's a drop down menu as you type each drug so you know it's spelt right, then you order the strength. Your order is 'remembered' for next time.
When you've ordered your drugs, they contact your GP, the GP OK's your prescription, pharmacy2U ships it and the Post Office delivers it - we've told the PO is ok to post through the letterbox, otherwise the PO will hand it to you. The PO is advertising it (more business for them). At every stage you know from your account on their website what stage your order is at.
We've had two discrepancies where the Surgery phoned us, one was a water tablet I ordered for my OH, he only uses the drug occasionally, I just went to the packet and told her the date it was last prescribed. She then went back on his medical records and found the original info. The other time the surgery phoned me was to ask me to come in for a yearly blood test as I'm on blood thinners, they said they couldn't sign off the medication next time unless I had the test.
The only downside to the company is that they're hot on reminding us we're due to order which can be minutely annoying.
There's also a little text box on the order form where you can tell the Dr that you're ordering early for Christmas etc.
We use pharmacy2u.co.uk, it's easy and it's FREE including delivery (for those that get their prescription free). I can't recommend them enough, we've had them a year now and it must have saved us a bob or 2 on petrol alone, not to mention hassle with the GP.
I’ve thought about that many times Jenny, but also thinking that if there should be a problem I can pop down to the pharmacy, (with doctors next door). And sort it out. With the delivery services it’s only by phone or email. im still undecided, as well as Use it or Lose it with the local pharmacy.
Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor.
'Horses for Courses' I think. My husband can't walk or drive anymore, he's also got severe health issues, so I welcome anything that can make my life easier. I don't see a problem with 'use it or lose it' pharmacy issue. They'll find their level if they don't keep up with progress.
The main point I'm trying to make is that hassle is reduced, you tell the company what drugs you want, pharmacy2u will need authorisation, but if the GP is unhappy with what you're ordering, they'll contact you. In my mind I'm now more in control.
Our Surgery has a pharmacy next door and I've been used as the gofer walking back and forth between them, and queuing each time. That hassle has now gone.
I've had the same BP medication for years, and have the annual health check. Despite that they stopped issuing 3 x 28 days supply and reduced it to 2x. I phoned the surgery to see if it was a mistake and was told it wasn't, and that all prescriptions had been reduced to 2 x, although they had no idea why. All I can see is that it increases the workload of the GP, or whoever signs off prescriptions, by 50% on that one job. Surgeries all claim they are short staffed so where's the logic? It can also take up to 2 weeks for a repeat prescription request to be actioned.
I tried using our local Boots pharmacy for repeat prescription but gave up when they messed up ordering the repeat, and blamed me for the problem. They didn't/couldn't explain what I supposedly did wrong, as they asked if I wanted them to order repeats, I agree, completed paperwork etc.
So a bit hit and miss then. We don't have a BOOTS near us,it would involve a 10 mile round trip, paying for parking and then walking into town I was debating using another pharmacy in the village, slightly further away, but still walking distance. The pharmacist screamed at me a couple of years ago, when I was collecting meds for an elderly neighbour that hadn't been delivered Up till recently,we used to get a text from the pharmacy saying the meds we're ready for collection. That didn't happen last month. I went in,my meds were ready and dated 7 days previously. Surely,it's a lot more work for the surgery, having to request scripts every 56, days rather than twice a year. I made an online account with the surgery, several years ago. I have never been able to access it. Last year I took my phone into the surgery,showed the receptionist,it confirms I have an online account,there is my email address,user name, password. I put all that in.... every one of these, confirmed correct,THEN it tells me I'm not registered with this surgery that I have been for the past 12 years. She said she didn't recognise the site,it wasn't theirs, inspite of it blatantly showing the surgery name and address,and pushed the phone across the counter to me. I have tried changing password and username, Didn't help
I put a repeat prescription request into our surgery using the NHS app on Monday. Today the status is showing as 'undetermined' whatever that means. I won't use the pharmacy at the end of our road because the staff have always been extremely rude. In fact my former neighbour who did work there left because of their attitude. I was in there one day when an elderly gentlemen was trying to collect his wife's prescription. Staff checked and couldn't find it but he was insistent that it had been ordered several days previous. Finally one of the staff decided to check their system and told him it had been collected the previous day. The gentleman apologised and said he must have forgotten. He was only a few steps away from the counter when one of the staff said loudly "Stupid old sod shouldn't be allowed out by himself". There was no point complaining to the manager as she was stood beside the staff member who said it.
No proper chocolate easter eggs in the SMs. No little Milkas and no big ones from Milka, Lindt, Côte d'Or. They have Ferrero Rocher but Possum doesn't like them and they have cheap brands that use vegetable fat rtaher than cocoa butter so not good.
Gonna have to do a tour of proper chocolate shops.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
I ordered carrots on my shopping delivery, to avoid another plastic bag, I order loose ones, they come in a paper bag, the nearest I could order to a kg. was .98, isn't that a kg? the picker didn’t thing so, so they packed .50kg, looks like the car will have to be on the road for a bag of carrots.
But finally (and I've been on these meds for over 40 years), got to see GP. He told me that my lengthy prescriptions were costly. Each one was costing the NHS more, so it is better to show on his books a larger number of cheaper prescriptions, than a smaller number of expensive ones. It also shows that he is keeping control of his practice.
Whether or not that is the truth, I don't know, but I can see his logic.
Apparently they get their money from the NHS for each prescription, and as they're cheaper than a 'normal' chemist the NHS encourage it.
Basically, you open an account (OH and I have one each), add your normal details address etc., then order your drugs. There's a drop down menu as you type each drug so you know it's spelt right, then you order the strength. Your order is 'remembered' for next time.
When you've ordered your drugs, they contact your GP, the GP OK's your prescription, pharmacy2U ships it and the Post Office delivers it - we've told the PO is ok to post through the letterbox, otherwise the PO will hand it to you. The PO is advertising it (more business for them). At every stage you know from your account on their website what stage your order is at.
We've had two discrepancies where the Surgery phoned us, one was a water tablet I ordered for my OH, he only uses the drug occasionally, I just went to the packet and told her the date it was last prescribed. She then went back on his medical records and found the original info. The other time the surgery phoned me was to ask me to come in for a yearly blood test as I'm on blood thinners, they said they couldn't sign off the medication next time unless I had the test.
The only downside to the company is that they're hot on reminding us we're due to order which can be minutely annoying.
There's also a little text box on the order form where you can tell the Dr that you're ordering early for Christmas etc.
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
With the delivery services it’s only by phone or email.
im still undecided, as well as Use it or Lose it with the local pharmacy.
The main point I'm trying to make is that hassle is reduced, you tell the company what drugs you want, pharmacy2u will need authorisation, but if the GP is unhappy with what you're ordering, they'll contact you. In my mind I'm now more in control.
Our Surgery has a pharmacy next door and I've been used as the gofer walking back and forth between them, and queuing each time. That hassle has now gone.
Cambridgeshire/Norfolk border.
I was debating using another pharmacy in the village, slightly further away, but still walking distance. The pharmacist screamed at me a couple of years ago, when I was collecting meds for an elderly neighbour that hadn't been delivered
Up till recently,we used to get a text from the pharmacy saying the meds we're ready for collection. That didn't happen last month. I went in,my meds were ready and dated 7 days previously. Surely,it's a lot more work for the surgery, having to request scripts every 56, days rather than twice a year. I made an online account with the surgery, several years ago. I have never been able to access it. Last year I took my phone into the surgery,showed the receptionist,it confirms I have an online account,there is my email address,user name, password. I put all that in.... every one of these, confirmed correct,THEN it tells me I'm not registered with this surgery that I have been for the past 12 years. She said she didn't recognise the site,it wasn't theirs, inspite of it blatantly showing the surgery name and address,and pushed the phone across the counter to me. I have tried changing password and username, Didn't help
No proper chocolate easter eggs in the SMs. No little Milkas and no big ones from Milka, Lindt, Côte d'Or. They have Ferrero Rocher but Possum doesn't like them and they have cheap brands that use vegetable fat rtaher than cocoa butter so not good.
Gonna have to do a tour of proper chocolate shops.