Medication shortage query
Discussion
I’m on a specific prescription, and if I run out of it I am totally non functional within 1 day. The only time I ran out for 2 days I ended up in hospital.
I’m not going to say what it is for privacy reasons (although I’m sure people will guess, but please don’t respond asking what it is or making guesses). No, it’s not methadone or anything like that!
My doctor is pretty crap on repeats, only sends it through to the pharmacy at the last minute, pharmacy insists on several working days to provide, and it often means that when I have 1 week left of a 28 day prescription I start to get worried.
This month it was with good reason. No text from pharmacy (usually get a text 4 days before I run out), so I rang them and they said they were out of stock, but it would be in on the day I run out. So I turned up on the day I ran out, only to be told they didn’t have any. I ended up getting the script printed out, and had to go to 5 pharmacies to find this (a common medication) before I found one who had it. Apparently there is a shortage and certain pharmacies are tied to specific suppliers.
Also worth noting both doctor and pharmacy won’t supply more than 28 days worth, even if I pay double prescription charges, and in addition won’t supply a new prescription more than 4 days ahead of run out time, even if I say I’m going on hols (rare) or away for work (common). In the latter case I once had to get an emergency prescription from a very kind doctor in Austria.
In essence, my question is: can I get a private prescription (even a ‘one off’) so I stay with the normal 28 day NHS script but also have a ‘backup’ supply for cases like the above?
In case of any concern - this isn’t the kind of stuff where taking more than the prescribed amount (cf. the 28 day supply on a single prescription) would kill you or could be used for ‘recreational purposes’.
TIA.
I’m not going to say what it is for privacy reasons (although I’m sure people will guess, but please don’t respond asking what it is or making guesses). No, it’s not methadone or anything like that!
My doctor is pretty crap on repeats, only sends it through to the pharmacy at the last minute, pharmacy insists on several working days to provide, and it often means that when I have 1 week left of a 28 day prescription I start to get worried.
This month it was with good reason. No text from pharmacy (usually get a text 4 days before I run out), so I rang them and they said they were out of stock, but it would be in on the day I run out. So I turned up on the day I ran out, only to be told they didn’t have any. I ended up getting the script printed out, and had to go to 5 pharmacies to find this (a common medication) before I found one who had it. Apparently there is a shortage and certain pharmacies are tied to specific suppliers.
Also worth noting both doctor and pharmacy won’t supply more than 28 days worth, even if I pay double prescription charges, and in addition won’t supply a new prescription more than 4 days ahead of run out time, even if I say I’m going on hols (rare) or away for work (common). In the latter case I once had to get an emergency prescription from a very kind doctor in Austria.
In essence, my question is: can I get a private prescription (even a ‘one off’) so I stay with the normal 28 day NHS script but also have a ‘backup’ supply for cases like the above?
In case of any concern - this isn’t the kind of stuff where taking more than the prescribed amount (cf. the 28 day supply on a single prescription) would kill you or could be used for ‘recreational purposes’.
TIA.
ChevronB19 said:
I’m on a specific prescription, and if I run out of it I am totally non functional within 1 day. The only time I ran out for 2 days I ended up in hospital.
I’m not going to say what it is for privacy reasons (although I’m sure people will guess, but please don’t respond asking what it is or making guesses). No, it’s not methadone or anything like that!
My doctor is pretty crap on repeats, only sends it through to the pharmacy at the last minute, pharmacy insists on several working days to provide, and it often means that when I have 1 week left of a 28 day prescription I start to get worried.
This month it was with good reason. No text from pharmacy (usually get a text 4 days before I run out), so I rang them and they said they were out of stock, but it would be in on the day I run out. So I turned up on the day I ran out, only to be told they didn’t have any. I ended up getting the script printed out, and had to go to 5 pharmacies to find this (a common medication) before I found one who had it. Apparently there is a shortage and certain pharmacies are tied to specific suppliers.
Also worth noting both doctor and pharmacy won’t supply more than 28 days worth, even if I pay double prescription charges, and in addition won’t supply a new prescription more than 4 days ahead of run out time, even if I say I’m going on hols (rare) or away for work (common). In the latter case I once had to get an emergency prescription from a very kind doctor in Austria.
In essence, my question is: can I get a private prescription (even a ‘one off’) so I stay with the normal 28 day NHS script but also have a ‘backup’ supply for cases like the above?
In case of any concern - this isn’t the kind of stuff where taking more than the prescribed amount (cf. the 28 day supply on a single prescription) would kill you or could be used for ‘recreational purposes’.
TIA.
I'm not sure this is helpful or not, but I've moved to using Pharmacy2U for my prescription. They send me a reminder to hit the button for a repeat prescription after about 3 weeks - I hit the button, it takes a day or 2 to get approved my my doc, and then comes through the letter box a few days after that. I’m not going to say what it is for privacy reasons (although I’m sure people will guess, but please don’t respond asking what it is or making guesses). No, it’s not methadone or anything like that!
My doctor is pretty crap on repeats, only sends it through to the pharmacy at the last minute, pharmacy insists on several working days to provide, and it often means that when I have 1 week left of a 28 day prescription I start to get worried.
This month it was with good reason. No text from pharmacy (usually get a text 4 days before I run out), so I rang them and they said they were out of stock, but it would be in on the day I run out. So I turned up on the day I ran out, only to be told they didn’t have any. I ended up getting the script printed out, and had to go to 5 pharmacies to find this (a common medication) before I found one who had it. Apparently there is a shortage and certain pharmacies are tied to specific suppliers.
Also worth noting both doctor and pharmacy won’t supply more than 28 days worth, even if I pay double prescription charges, and in addition won’t supply a new prescription more than 4 days ahead of run out time, even if I say I’m going on hols (rare) or away for work (common). In the latter case I once had to get an emergency prescription from a very kind doctor in Austria.
In essence, my question is: can I get a private prescription (even a ‘one off’) so I stay with the normal 28 day NHS script but also have a ‘backup’ supply for cases like the above?
In case of any concern - this isn’t the kind of stuff where taking more than the prescribed amount (cf. the 28 day supply on a single prescription) would kill you or could be used for ‘recreational purposes’.
TIA.
Because the frequency of reminder notifications seems to be ~3 weeks, if I just blindly hit the button when they tell me to, I end up stockpiling tablets - over the course of a year I've now got about 2.5 months worth in my drawer.
It might not solve the immediate problem, but over a few months it would ?
Like the above poster, I was about to suggest using an online pharmacy. Mrs Harpoon has some prescription antihistamines on repeat and she's started using an online service. All very smooth and saves the trips to the surgery / chemist to collect. I can't remember who she is using though - I will ask.
Most chemists now limit their stock and prefer to deal with one (cheapest) supplier.
I have similar problems with supply and when pushed they admitted that the drug they “couldn’t get” was easily available from another supplier.
Similarly one chemist could not get 500ml bottles but Boots was happy to provide in 250ml bottles - all the prescription says is 1000ml!
I am seriously considering moving mine on line and hence withdrawing my support from the local chemist.
I have similar problems with supply and when pushed they admitted that the drug they “couldn’t get” was easily available from another supplier.
Similarly one chemist could not get 500ml bottles but Boots was happy to provide in 250ml bottles - all the prescription says is 1000ml!
I am seriously considering moving mine on line and hence withdrawing my support from the local chemist.
Do you use the NHS app?
I had an issue and got into the habit of placing an order every three and a bit weeks until I eventually had a whole month in store. I put a reminder on my calendar on my phone.
If you are paying for your prescription, then look at a prescription prepayment certificate.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/save...
I had an issue and got into the habit of placing an order every three and a bit weeks until I eventually had a whole month in store. I put a reminder on my calendar on my phone.
If you are paying for your prescription, then look at a prescription prepayment certificate.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/save...
IJWS15 said:
Most chemists now limit their stock and prefer to deal with one (cheapest) supplier.
I have similar problems with supply and when pushed they admitted that the drug they “couldn’t get” was easily available from another supplier.
Similarly one chemist could not get 500ml bottles but Boots was happy to provide in 250ml bottles - all the prescription says is 1000ml!
I am seriously considering moving mine on line and hence withdrawing my support from the local chemist.
Spot on, i take methotrexate which has to taken on the same day each week. I order from my GP early to limit any issues with the supplier or pharmacy. However, the Surgery will reject any prescription request made more than 7 days in advance, meaning it needs to be reordered.I have similar problems with supply and when pushed they admitted that the drug they “couldn’t get” was easily available from another supplier.
Similarly one chemist could not get 500ml bottles but Boots was happy to provide in 250ml bottles - all the prescription says is 1000ml!
I am seriously considering moving mine on line and hence withdrawing my support from the local chemist.
The attached pharmacy only gets its stock from one supplier, who frequently has supply chain issues.
I have found the boots online stock checker very useful, they will often have stock that other pharmacies don't:
https://www.boots.com/online/psc/?msockid=2c5ae234...
I use either Patient Access or the NHS app to order my repeats, and luckily my doctor approves them pretty quickly. I get two months supply at a time, but I assume the OP can't do that ? Our chemist is literally a 5 minute walk up the road, although these days they don't actually seem to collate my prescription. They just pass it straight to their head office who package it all up (nine different meds) and deliver it to the chemist. I don't know if that is because it is a particularly large order, or chemists don't keep the stock they used to ?
Thank you so much for all your replies and advice.
Without wanting to sound a wuss, this has been a significant problem for me ever since I changed surgeries, and I was worried if I went to online prescribing they would say ‘wtf’.
I’ll do that right now.
Worst example was turning up 1 day before pills ran out and idiot till person said they weren’t allowed to supply it until the actual *day* it ran out, and also ‘I’m sure you’ll be ok for a few days without it’… That ended up with a formal complaint and a written apology from the pharmacy (pharmacist overheard her), but still an insistence I couldn’t keep an ‘emergency stock’ (cf. comments of going through app a week in advance - they simply won’t provide it).
I’ll also buy a pre-pay cert, as even if this is my only monthly prescription it still will save me money, thanks.
Without wanting to sound a wuss, this has been a significant problem for me ever since I changed surgeries, and I was worried if I went to online prescribing they would say ‘wtf’.
I’ll do that right now.
Worst example was turning up 1 day before pills ran out and idiot till person said they weren’t allowed to supply it until the actual *day* it ran out, and also ‘I’m sure you’ll be ok for a few days without it’… That ended up with a formal complaint and a written apology from the pharmacy (pharmacist overheard her), but still an insistence I couldn’t keep an ‘emergency stock’ (cf. comments of going through app a week in advance - they simply won’t provide it).
I’ll also buy a pre-pay cert, as even if this is my only monthly prescription it still will save me money, thanks.
IJWS15 said:
Most chemists now limit their stock and prefer to deal with one (cheapest) supplier.
I have similar problems with supply and when pushed they admitted that the drug they “couldn’t get” was easily available from another supplier.
Similarly one chemist could not get 500ml bottles but Boots was happy to provide in 250ml bottles - all the prescription says is 1000ml!
I am seriously considering moving mine on line and hence withdrawing my support from the local chemist.
In the most recent example/farce, my prescription said 100mg. The first pharmacy said they had loads of 50mg, but no 100mg, and wouldn’t give me 2 packs of 50mg instead.I have similar problems with supply and when pushed they admitted that the drug they “couldn’t get” was easily available from another supplier.
Similarly one chemist could not get 500ml bottles but Boots was happy to provide in 250ml bottles - all the prescription says is 1000ml!
I am seriously considering moving mine on line and hence withdrawing my support from the local chemist.
If possible try and arrange a phone call with the Medicines Optimisation person at the GP practice. They should understand the way you are trying to manage your prescriptions and help approve a request that arrives a bit earlier than the usual 4 week interval. An online service sounds best in your case but the practice still needs to approve a request, so there may still be a delay 
ChevronB19 said:
Also worth noting both doctor and pharmacy won’t supply more than 28 days worth, even if I pay double prescription charges, and in addition won’t supply a new prescription more than 4 days ahead of run out time, even if I say I’m going on hols (rare) or away for work (common). In the latter case I once had to get an emergency prescription from a very kind doctor in Austria.
There's guidance that they're supposed to supply up to three months worth if travelling for business or leisure.Again thanks to all. Assuming it works out properly, I’ve just bought a prepay cert, and ordered via Pharmacy2U.
I really ought to have done this long ago, and again hoping it works out, it will take a lot of stress off me. There’s even a box to say I need it earlier due to holiday/lost, which my old pharmacy won’t accept. I did try once, they told me to call doctor, receptionist wouldn’t let me speak to him, had to go through econsult, he approved, and even then the pharmacy complained to me (!) that I should have spoken to them…
I really ought to have done this long ago, and again hoping it works out, it will take a lot of stress off me. There’s even a box to say I need it earlier due to holiday/lost, which my old pharmacy won’t accept. I did try once, they told me to call doctor, receptionist wouldn’t let me speak to him, had to go through econsult, he approved, and even then the pharmacy complained to me (!) that I should have spoken to them…
Slow.Patrol said:
Do you use the NHS app?
I had an issue and got into the habit of placing an order every three and a bit weeks until I eventually had a whole month in store. I put a reminder on my calendar on my phone.
If you are paying for your prescription, then look at a prescription prepayment certificate.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/save...
+1 on the NHS app. Brilliant for organising repeats I had an issue and got into the habit of placing an order every three and a bit weeks until I eventually had a whole month in store. I put a reminder on my calendar on my phone.
If you are paying for your prescription, then look at a prescription prepayment certificate.
https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/prescriptions/save...
However it still needs to be approved by the OPs clinic or doctor and that seems to be the sticking point.
The pharmacy is my issue as they've just taken two weeks to get my prescription in. Previously it was just a few days so I ran out of one medication a week ago. Fortunately it's not something I'd die without.
I'll look into one of the online pharmacies as this is the second time.
Last Friday for my wife a consultant neurologist prescribed a medicine at a max dosage of 10mg and it is essential she takes it daily. Previously he had prescribed 5mg, no problem obtaining it. She could not get the 10mg dosage ("sorry. we're out of supplies" said our local Boots), so we toured around and got the prescription fulfilled elsewhere.
Saturday she took her first 10mg pill and had a severe reaction. Did the same on Sunday. So, back to the GP who then prescribed the 5mg again. Guess what: back to Boots who said they had no supply so come back tomorrow. When she said how important the medicine is, they produced what they described as an emergency dose of 14 pills! So, I wonder: is this emergency supply thing something that's standard at Boots? Hopefully, she'll get the full 56 days prescription tomorrow when Boots are restocked.
I too have regular repeat medication. For many years I have been using an online facility: Patient Access. Never failed.
R.
Saturday she took her first 10mg pill and had a severe reaction. Did the same on Sunday. So, back to the GP who then prescribed the 5mg again. Guess what: back to Boots who said they had no supply so come back tomorrow. When she said how important the medicine is, they produced what they described as an emergency dose of 14 pills! So, I wonder: is this emergency supply thing something that's standard at Boots? Hopefully, she'll get the full 56 days prescription tomorrow when Boots are restocked.
I too have regular repeat medication. For many years I have been using an online facility: Patient Access. Never failed.
R.
I too am on on load of medication. When I get my prescription through I have two weekly tablet organiser boxes that I fill up appropriately. As all my meds come in boxes of 28, when I refill my organisers I always order my repeat prescription on line when I get to the last day of week 3.
My meds come from Boots and I can either use the NHS or Patient Access apps to order. Generally speaking, there have been few if any times when I have had issues with running out of my meds.
My meds come from Boots and I can either use the NHS or Patient Access apps to order. Generally speaking, there have been few if any times when I have had issues with running out of my meds.
ChevronB19 said:
I’ve just bought a prepay cert, and ordered via Pharmacy2U.
I switched to them a few years ago and not had an issue since. The GP still has to approve (and can reject) the request you make via Pharmacy2U but thats only happened when I have ordered a month ahead by mistake (I get two months supply at a time).Normally all turns up with 5-6 days from order.
Just waiting for them to announce half day closing on a Wednesday.Is there a reason that you are only prescribed 28 days at a time? This usually only happens when starting a new med in case it doesn’t work/ not tolerated which necessitates stopping or changing to another medication.
Once you are established on a regular prescription they should prescribe 3 months at a time. Ask your GP to change it to 3 monthly and if they won’t ask them why not
Once you are established on a regular prescription they should prescribe 3 months at a time. Ask your GP to change it to 3 monthly and if they won’t ask them why not
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