I'm Screaming Here. What Can I Do?

[ladybirder]

For over two hours I have been listening to the same horrible boring music on the phone from the doctors' surgery. They phoned me last Tuesday to check on me and I ordered a prescription for two inhalers to be sent to my chemist. Phoned chemist this morning as i haven't received them to be told they have not received the prescription.

Doctors don't answer the phone, Doctor says I can't go out as cold will further damage my lungs, my last inhaler will run out tomorrow evening.

That's why I'm screaming.

[Khandro]

Zacs, //A rhetorical question, no doubt.//
Not at all.

jourdain; I'm not certain of the status quo, you must check elsewhere, but we are of a pensionable age & it was a rule that the OAP (only that one) must be paid directly into a German bank for which we get Rolls- Royce healthcare, - all of which is paid for by the NHS.

I have my prostate & heart checked every 6 months, I have periodically complete health checks from top to toes, - I've had 3- in fact, I think here we shall be immortal :0)

One day last year I noticed when having a morning shower an unusual small discoloured patch on my waist, Mrs K, said it could be shingles starting, phoned the docs, they said come in at 11.00 am, my doctor confirmed it was the start of shingles, gave me a prescription & by midday I had received & taken the medication & it cleared immediately, (in case you don't know early treatment is important to alleviate the problem).

My daughter in England tells me she has to wait 3 weeks just for an appointment to see her doctor.

[Scarlett]

Apologies if somebody has already said this, but if you dial 111 and explain that you need inhaler urgently, I’m sure they will be able to help more than your surgery.

[ladybirder]

Maydup that is what I usually do. It was because the nurse from my surgery phoned me to check I was OK and said don't bother to order your inhalers I'll order them for you that I didn't do it myself as usual. She forgot of course. Sorry but I thought I had already explained that. Obviously not very well.

[tobytronic]

This seems to be happening a lot over the last six months. It's a horrible feeling to do everything you can to be told that an item hasn't arrived. Especially on a Friday prior to a bank holiday. You Can now buy inhalers without a prescription from any UK pharmacy. You need to take proof - an enpty inhaler and be prepared to be initially refused. My sister's paartner has been forced to do this several times this year for similar reasons to yours. Good luck x

[ladybirder]

Mine is prescription only Toby. Are you not in England?

https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/761/smpc#gref

[Khandro]

jourdain; By an odd coincidence this article appeared in this morning's Express ;
https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1702681/nhs-waiting-lists-treatments-abroad-patients-steve-barclay-healthcare-uk-latest

[jourdain2]

Khandro - thank you very much for your responses. It's something I'll start to chase-up. We really are seriously worried about the results of depending on the NHS now. E.g. when OH finally (after 9 mths) got to see a dermatologist about his leg ulcer- after a very urgent referral by the doctor on his nurse's insistence, the specialist wasn't worried about his leg but went nuts about the state of his head. OH has had skin cancer for years and used to get 'crouts' dry-iced-off regularly. Of course, due to telephone consultations and annual check-ups for a couple of years no doctor had actually seen him and the extent of the condition. Fortunately it looks as if the resulting treatment has been effective - but no-one was interested for those 2 years.
We may brush-up our German (both can manage basic). Thanks again.

[ladybirder]

Well Thursday now and still not got my inhalers. They did arrive at the chemist yesterday but the 'boy' forget to get the stuff out of the fridge which is where they are kept. Let's hope he remembers tomorrow!

That's it, I am changing chemist now because this is not the first time they've messed up. I need to check out a reliable delivery company for this area.

[naomi24]

Snowball was talking about a reliable delivery company the other day. She was recommending it to emmie. I can’t remember what it’s called. Maybe post a question in chatterbank for her?

[Canary42]

For what it's worth, Chemists4U have served me well for two repeats now, after both local pharmacies found very much wanting.

[blue-yonder]

If youre chemist is the one you regularly use, im sure they will
supply you with youre inhalers until a prescription is
available, if you explain.

[ladybirder]

You must be joking blue, they can't even do it when they are in their cupboard for a week. I should have changed them before now as I have long been dissatisfied with them.

How do I join Chemist4U Canary? I will give them a try.

[lady-janine]

google them lady and that might help.

I have a repeat prescription which I submit to the doc's surgery every month and then collect tablets from local chemist. One kind were not included one month when I spoke to chemist was told doc had decided to stop them for one month without telling me. So helpful. They have now decided to prescribe them again, again without telling me. Confused I am. Rang surgery but unable to speak to doc and receptionist just told me to carry on taking tabs with no explanation of why they were stopped. So helpful.

[jennyjoan]

I am sorry to hear of your prescription dilemma.

Me, I order online to my doctor, notify chemist - their delivery man picks up the prescription and when ready delivers to my door. Done