Posted 21 December 2023
Very bad service from chemists
Has anyone else got problems with chemists where you get repeat prescription sent directly to them?
My dad lives in London and he gets delivery from the local chemist for his monthly repeat prescription. The service is very poor and often no one answers the phone or the phone line is taken off.
They don't deliver all the prescribed medication and when I ask what was in a delivery, they don't always have the information available. It is very chaotic and I have to speak to them often to sort out my dad's prescription.
He was with another local chemist before and there was also problems so it seems that the local chemists in the area are all as bad as one another.
Is this unusual or is there a trend of issues with chemist delivery?
My dad lives in London and he gets delivery from the local chemist for his monthly repeat prescription. The service is very poor and often no one answers the phone or the phone line is taken off.
They don't deliver all the prescribed medication and when I ask what was in a delivery, they don't always have the information available. It is very chaotic and I have to speak to them often to sort out my dad's prescription.
He was with another local chemist before and there was also problems so it seems that the local chemists in the area are all as bad as one another.
Is this unusual or is there a trend of issues with chemist delivery?
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42 Comments
sorted byAlso, do they offer free delivery? (edited)
I now use an Lloyds online pharmacy that seems to be ok. I get a notification when I should order more, complete it online, and my Dr sends it directly to them. Two bugbears;
1. One seems to be out of stock EVERY time, however, I have always received it before I run out.
2. What attracted me was letterbox delivery but ordering both meds at the same time means they send it in a bigger box that doesn't fit - off to the post office to collect (around the corner from my old pharmacy so no point, I could just collect quicker in person than waiting for post). I have staggered the ordering of my meds so they come one at a time and that sorted the problem, small box through letterbox x 2 now.
i see my dad every 2 weeks so if i organise the repeats well in advance, i can pick up the prescription when i go to see him.
Royal Mail tracked delivery for regular repeat medication. Special courier for time sensitive medications or controlled drugs.
If you’re someone like me who has a lot of medication, their optional free EasyMed service is great too where it’s all sent out pre-sorted into a roll of pouches with the time and date you need to take them.
the lady i spoke to today was very rude and has said that she will take my dad off their nominated list and that he should get his medication elsewhere. effectively she has said that they don't want his business anymore.
i thought chemists are professionals and should behave as such, but they are no better than the street traders from my experience of the ones local to my dad. where I live, the chemists are more professional but i don't use repeat prescriptions and i don't have deliveries.
I need 3/4 controlled drugs delivered as part of the order.
Never in stock even though same order for the last 4 years.
After loudly protesting to the chemist and doctors about running out of medication and suffering withdrawal symptoms. They let me order 7 days in advance and I still run out as takes so long for delivery.
What a mess.
The amount of money they have wasted is extreme. I feel guilty even though I have told them again & again.
Now I have gone back to ordering my own stuff online.
I write down when a prescription was ordered. What was ordered.
Name of person.
Date of birth and any other information.
I hand the paper over to the staff in the chemist and off they go to fetch it . It makes things so much easier. Once I forget to take note with the information on but I was asked for it. Just goes to show how that helps staff and they remember.
We sometimes get a text message to say it's ready but not always. That system is not great.
We also phone around prior to putting in some prescription requests for some drugs to see if available. Doctors prescription team know some drugs are available in the city but don't know where, so you need to find out before requesting a prescription..
Yes it's not always easy to get what you want but you can help avoid problems.
The system is not great and needs looking at but the public aren't helping the chemist either.
Have taken to ringing them while inside the pharmacy and hearing nothing (then asking why the ringer is on silent) feel better now
They are part of the NHS, but they act like independent shops.
The chemist is very unprofessional and I wonder if I should make a complaint or should I just forget about it and move on?
Start afresh with another local independent one.
what happens to these medicines that they don't deliver? do they charge the NHS for them because it is on the prescription from the GP?