Repeat Prescriptions

[jennyjoan]

I had to pick up my repeat prescription yesterday but it wasn't "signed" by the doctor - receptionist duly informed me that I wasn't getting a certain prescription and so to see the doctor.

The more I think of it - I think it a total disgrace that receptionists know so much personal information re a patient. An absolute disgrace.

[Old_Geezer]

I suspect she needed to know enough to give you a proper explanation. All she seems to have known is that you had to see the doctor, and the medicine was being withheld to ensure you did.

[anneasquith]

In fairness JJ. How else would you have got the information ?

[Tilly2]

It's not a disgrace. She is merely informing you that the prescription cannot be repeated without a consultation.

That's her job.

[Jackdaw33]

True, some medications are not on repeat, anti-depressants, for example. One of my prescriptions cannot be sent electronically to the chemist; it has to be collected.

[Arksided]

Had you missed an appointment IE regular check-up, I'm a member of the local asthma clinic and before the on-line ordering of repeat prescriptions for my inhalers I have missed one and Doc hadn't signed it until I'd made a re-appointment.

[woofgang]

Having worked in the NHS for many years......in all honesty people’s “personal medical information" is just not that interesting.....no, I will go further, its as boring as hell. of course there are bad apples in every job but to your average health worker, clinician or admin, your personal medical information is about as interesting and gossip worthy as the state of your hot water system is to a plumber.

[EDDIE51]

The receptionist was just telling you that you had to see the doctor to get another prescription. How is that 'personal information'? No prescription can be just repeated endlessly they all have to be checked at intervals to see if they are still needed or need to be changed in some way.
It was the doctor that said your prescription had to be reviewed not the receptionist, she was just passing on what the doctor had ordered to be done.

[Psybbo]

Conne, if it is anything like our health centre the went from a perfectly good simple system to use Visiononline services which seems to cover the Uk and I've had to ask the receptionist to ask the doc for anything this system didn't recognise as being a repeat

[EDDIE51]

Not quite on topic but do you all know that written/printed prescriptions are soon to be history? The new paperless prescription system is being rolled out now and will cover the entire UK within a few years.
You have to nominate the pharmacy that you want to use to collect the prescription and the details are transmitted electronically direct to the pharmacy of your choice. Then you just go and pick it up, ID is needed to collect it. Delivery services etc will operate as before but they will be 'paperless'.

[Old_Geezer]

No, and it'll be another backwards step if true.

It'd mean having to decide where you want to go before you even start out there. Now you can pass by busy chemists and pop into a less busy one. It'll mean you can't get one in advance to keep in your pocket for when you are away without getting it filled there and then when it is so much simpler to have it on you when you need to get it filled and going where you want. These days every change forced on the public seems to be to make life more awkward. That can't be accidental surely, no society can be that daft as to be doing it with such a lack of forethought ?

[Jackdaw33]

I can't see them disappearing completely. If a doctor does a house call and medication is required a a matter of urgency then the prescription will have to be hand-written. Also, I have said above, certain medications cannot be sent electronically, they have to be collected from the surgery, either by the patient or the chemist, as they now have to be signed for.

[Jackdaw33]

...all my prescriptions go electronically except for Trramadol. The prescription has to be signed for when collected and again on the receipt of the medication.

[EDDIE51]

Information here
http://systems.hscic.gov.uk/eps

[jennyjoan]

Well do understand all of you saying that a certain prescription was withheld - but I forgot to mention she said the words of the actual prescription and there were two patients listening to all and sundry.

And I do understand that receptionists aren't "interested". However had it have been an extremely personal medicine like for instance Venereal Disease or for anything down below - I would have gone mad.

[woofgang]

so you don’t want her to know anything, but you want her to know enough not to mention certain meds?

[THECORBYLOON]

How was she meant to tell you? Write it down for you? Mime? How many folk know what a particular product is prescribed for?

[jennyjoan]

oh she knew this prescription believe me

[jennyjoan]

I really don't think other people in the surgery should be able to hear your business.

[Mamyalynne]

So you would prefer each patient collecting a prescription was either taken into a private room to be told - 'you have Med A and Med B but need to see the doctor for Med C'?

I feel I am misunderstanding something here.