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?","comment":[{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51832774","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Love_Bargains"},"datePublished":"2023-12-25T22:59:52.000Z","text":"I recommend Pharmacy2u. They are the largest online pharmacy and have lots of experience. I believe they cost the NHS less money than your local pharmacy too."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51802199","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"tardytortoise"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T17:43:36.000Z","text":"Waste of space local chemists - like many local anything the internet has done for them. I have used Pharmacy2U now for years - only one glitch quickly sorted. I get 2 months supply at a time and I have to do the reordering. There is an android and apple app and you can do it through a browser also. The process involves my local GP having to authorise each time, but I have learnt to submit my re-order request on Sunday. and it gets approved Monday and postie delivers Friday latest."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51864441","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Tiggiwiggi"},"datePublished":"2023-12-29T22:13:55.000Z","text":"I tried this with Boots a few years ago. In five uses they lost my prescription twice. When I called on the second occasion they didn't put the phone on mute and I heard the person say \"she's claiming we lost it, she probably didn't even request it\". They got a mouthful and I stopped using it.
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."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51801845","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"KodaBear"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T16:56:58.000Z","text":"I gave up on my local ones a long time ago for similar reasons. Have used Superdrug Online Pharmacy for years now and only have good things to say about them. If you’re looking for an alternative it’s worth considering.
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."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51802412","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"aLV426"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T18:10:51.000Z","text":"I have changed my Chemist a few times. The first change was because they never had the items in stock, the second one had really rude & incompetent staff (when I went in to collect the prescription it took them almost an hour to fulfill the order, no apology - there was no queue!). The 3rd one was just too far away and whilst I could get it delivered I'd rather collect. So the latest Pharmacy has actually proved that it is possible to have competent and attentive staff."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51802827","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"grahambriggs792"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T19:11:19.000Z","text":"I use my local Asda chemist & they are great & do a bit of a shop while there."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51802930","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"bigwheels"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T19:26:00.000Z","text":"My chemist is useless as well.
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."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51802968","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Willy_Wonka"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T19:32:34.000Z","text":"I just stopped my local chemist ordering repeats for me. In the last year they have sent me 10 epi-pens & I am inundated with half the drugs I have because half of them are 56 days & half 28 days.
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."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51803059","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"JimboParrot"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T19:45:37.000Z","text":"Ours are excellent. A two branch set up. Ring them on a Monday morning and they arrange the prescriptions with the doctor, and delivered by Wednesday."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51803247","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Mendoza"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T20:07:35.000Z","text":"do you use patientaccess to order the repeats?"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51803514","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"wayners"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T20:42:37.000Z","text":"Tip
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."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51803553","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"okiedokie"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T20:47:37.000Z","text":"I used to collect few items for my late partner from boots but there were always issues collecting medication either not in stock or failed to find prescription. So we switched to a family owned chemist was total different medication was already waiting and if there was no stock or was always delivered same day or early next day..."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51804240","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"newbie68"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T22:23:49.000Z","text":"I feel lucky now. I've used many local chemists (one is delivering my families meds) and find them excellent in almost every way."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51804398","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"Sonofclara"},"datePublished":"2023-12-21T22:45:21.000Z","text":"My new pharmacy started off ok but has got gradually worse and worse I have to keep chasing repeat prescriptions , text reminders not being sent and phone calls not being answered over a number of days
Have taken to ringing them while inside the pharmacy and hearing nothing (then asking why the ringer is on silent) feel better now "},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51814669","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"moneysaver80"},"datePublished":"2023-12-23T08:57:46.000Z","text":"They're underpaid but expected to provide additional services. More and more work piled on to them to provide relief to GPs. Your GP will probably see 6 patients/hr (say 10 minutes for each patient). Your pharmacist will be expected to churn out 100+ prescriptions, see a number of patients asking for advice, answer the phone at the same time and perhaps manage the shop in that same hour. They're the only professional who will see you without an appointment. Try that with your GP practice, dentist or optician."},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51859444","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"mutley1"},"datePublished":"2023-12-29T12:21:33.000Z","text":"So another question about this. My dad's local chemist has thrown him off their books because of the dispute about the shortfall in delivery. I was told by the GP that they can do this.
The chemist is very unprofessional and I wonder if I should make a complaint or should I just forget about it and move on?"},{"@type":"Comment","@id":"https://www.hotukdeals.com/comments/permalink/51859912","author":{"@type":"Person","name":"JimboParrot"},"datePublished":"2023-12-29T13:25:05.000Z","text":"There is often a shortage of certain medicines being available, which is not their fault.
Start afresh with another local independent one."}],"commentCount":42,"interactionStatistic":4,"articleSection":"Ask"}