Pharmacy issues…

Kookee

Hi. I was wondering if anyone is having issues with their pharmacy lately? My local Rowlands has gone terrible. Long waits for prescriptions to get done, stock issues, missing items from repeat prescriptions, poor communication/customer service, long queues then told to wait then half an hour passes and they tell you to come back another day. The people who work their are super stressed and are doing their best but the problems they’re having plus the impatience, anger directed at them from customers is having a knock on effect meaning they’re now not very pleasant and can be very dismissive. The person I care for has lots of meds. I must have spent at least 2 hours in there over the past week. The GP has prescribed him medication on Friday and they say come back Thursday but one of the items you’re not supposed to just stop taking and he’s run out. Looks like I’ll have to taxi it about hoping somewhere else has it. That’s another thing, no other pharmacies are answering their phone so I can’t even check stock. This is all making my health worse to be honest. Sorry for the long post!

MCMikey

Perhaps you can get them delivered to the persons house or an alternate address (maybe yours if you have authority to do so). Or if they don't offer delivery change to the 'taxi' pharmacy and use their delivery service…

Kimi87

If the prescription was for more than one item and has already been part dispensed less the missing item, you can't have the prescription returned to find the missing item elsewhere.

If somewhere has stock then GP or 111 may be able to do a stand alone emergency prescription, just for that item.

I had to do that myself over Easter.

Dendoo

Ive just noticed my

Thyroxine boxes are all stamped uk only 🤷‍♀️

Cyhyraeth

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/138980/pharmacy-issues

I was having terrible trouble with the whole system and how it worked with scripts. I was getting them delivered as i'm housebound these days, so I had to call the Chemist to arrange it. I would have to call about 15 times before they answered the phone.

The system changed to all digital recently (I'm in Wales) and I changed to using an online pharmacy service based in London! So I order the script through the GP app, when approved it automatically goes through to the company and without me even doing anything it's sent out to me and delivered within a few days. The company is RX Live if that helps.

Deborahtuson

https://forum.scope.org.uk/discussion/138980/pharmacy-issues

Yes mine won't give me oramorph they give me morphine sulphate which is more of a syrup, and too sweet and makes me feel suck when it's meant 5 be oramorph, also always changing the brands which I think effect my stomach as the coatings are always different and hard to digest as I have bowel issues.

MW123

@Kookee

I use Rowlands pharmacy in my area too. They used to offer home delivery but stopped last year. They gave all customers the option to register with Pharmacy2U, which uses Royal Mail, but I do not trust the post with anything, especially not medication that needs refrigeration, which some of mine does. So I declined and now collect everything myself.

I have got to the bottom of what is going on, and it is not just Rowlands, it is happening across all chemists. The pharmacist explained that the problem is the government delaying payments to pharmacies for prescriptions, so they cannot afford to hold stock in advance. Rowlands told me they are only allowed to keep one item on the shelf at a time, and once it is gone, they order it in again when requested which causes delays.

I spoke with my GP, who was very aware of the issue, and we’ve worked around it by arranging for my medication to be ordered a week before it runs out. Since making that change, everything has been there and ready on time for collection. I would advise anyone having this problem to speak directly with their GP, as there are ways around it.

HappyDays62

I use Pharmacy2U and don't have any problems. They send you an email to remind you to reorder, and then deal with the GP directly.

rubin16

Pharmacies, doctors, NHS everything is going to get worst. Its never going to get better. Hoping society will improve is like believing we will never get rain. Everything in our lives is about to change and its only going to get worst. The world is at breaking point, and we've passed the point of no return.

I have stopped taking part in society, theres no point anymore. I have completley given up and now pretty much just waiting to die.

MW123

@rubin16

Yes, it feels hopeless. Everything’s breaking. Pressure’s constant. Collapse is relentless. But I’m not giving in. Why make it easy for them?

They want us quiet. Compliant. Waiting for the end. They want collapse to look like consent. I won’t give them that. I don’t resist because I think I’ll win. I resist because it’s the last thing I still control. And I won’t hand that over quietly.

I’m staying inconvenient. Even if collapse is inevitable, surrender isn’t.

Kookee

Thank you for your helpful replies and suggestions. I think a delivery service is my best bet now as it’s becoming too much for me. Hopefully it’ll be better, I won’t know until I try!

@rubin16 I’m so sorry you feel that way. I don’t mean to sound condescending but for me personally, although there’s all kinds of madness going on, I always try to find little things to be grateful for. I truly hope you find some peace within you despite the outside world being so chaotic.

Littlefatfriend

Hi Kookee

Rowlands have been making significant losses in recent years and although 2024 was slightly improved they've been reported to be discussing "reducing their network" - IE closing some of their pharmacies.

It's a complicated business to be in and they're inevitably caught between the rock of their suppliers and the hard place of government funding.

As others have written above, if they aren't doing the job you want use somewhere else.

Superdrug do the job well for me, they are miles away. Is there any potential for deliveries? That seems the most obvious solution.

If you call 111, they're obliged to help you find "emergency pharmacies" if there's a risk from medication being unavailable. Aware of that, I'd suggest giving them a call and describing the situation to them. People often make much longer posts here!

Please try not to allow it to affect your health. That's just not right and won't help.

Rubin16 please, to misquote D:ream things may get better. There's no point worrying, that achieves nothing.

Things could easily be worse, but they aren't.

Good luck all

Kookee

I got the Friday prescription from another pharmacy by getting a taxi there and back. All meds are up to date and I’ll find an online service going forward. I can’t be in chemists anymore!! Not only is it tiring me out and effecting my pain levels it’s full of negativity and is generally too overstimulating for my senses.

Santosha12

I've been reading your thread @Kookee.

I don't know if it helps but I used Well Pharmacy (they delivered to me FOC) but after being prescribed an additional medication several months ago but there's UK-wide shortages of it, I moved to Boots Pharmacy after a lot of ringing round! They deliver to me, they charge I think it was 55.00 for the year. They've also been excellent as they've sourced my medication each month so far.

They won't though order it in in advance as it's expensive and they only order it once they get the prescription from my GP on the spine. I therefore order my 'repeats' from my GP now a fortnight in advance, they've not challenged me on this although they are aware I cannot eat anything without the medication, and of the shortages.

I went to Boots once at the start of this medication but it's in the town and was a major struggle for me to get their so delivery is the only realistic option for me too.

I do hope you get sorted, it's very stressful.

Kookee

Thank you @Santosha12 I’m glad you got sorted, your situation sounded really stressful.

Hopeless

I was having problems with my local pharmacy and stock levels but then it closed! As there’s not another pharmacy near to me I joined Pharmacy2U and that’s been ok