Online Pharmacies
I thought this might be of interest. Had a letter arrive today. Not personally addressed which usually means it goes straight into the recycling. However it did have the NHS logo on the envelop. It was from a company called Pharmacy2U. They do make a point of saying that their communication was not approved by any of the medical centres listed and no personal data has been supplied by those medical centres.
The background to this is that many doctors surgeries are encouraging patients to accept that repeat prescriptions are ordered online, with the next stage being that they are then transmitted electronically to the Pharmacy of your choice, usually one that is most convenient for you. Whilst both Margaret and I order our medications online, Margaret has hers sent direct to a Pharmacy whilst I collect mine from the surgery.
Today's letter lists our local medical centres and offers to organise your repeat prescriptions for you and deliver them to your door. Once signed up you don't have to do anything except await your delivery. This is perfectly genuine as Pharmacy2U are recognised by the NHS. I suppose in time this will become the norm. However I just wonder how it will affect local pharmacies which already seem to be under pressure.
David
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Our Doctor's surgery is in the village, repeat prescriptions can be ordered online and sent direct to the chemist, also in the village. We use this system it works fine, as we are able to, we collect from chemist, however many of the elderly do get them delivered by the village chemist.
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We have also recieved similar communications. Personally I would not even consider it. At the moment I submit an online request to the surgery, who process it and then electronically forward it to the local pharmacy, from where I collect it. When we get to old to wander down for it, they will deliver. I would like to keep the pharmacy in the village with plenty of business, as it is very useful for advice and non prescription items, some lately have been cheaper than the supermarkets.
Also if I go to the doctors for something not connected to my regular prescription, I can just wander across the road with the prescription I have been given. If it is driven out of business by one of these large concerns, that will no longer be possible.
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Also received the letter previously and recycled it. We have a great independent chemist next door to the GP. I can email for repeat prescription and collect in the chemist when it suits me. They will also deliver to those who need it. Chatting to the pharmacist recently as all have all received a cut in funding not sure if it was 10 or 20 %, huge cut. Same level for sole owned and the giants! Will hit him but the small Boots about a mile away that has little trade or pharmacy will be able to trade with Boots backing. I'm all for independent pharmacies, it's a bit like losing stores to supermarkets. 😢. I don't want any on my records shared with any more than the absolute necessity.
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Like a number of you above I also order repeat prescriptions on line and collect from the chemist next door to the surgery. What I do find amusing is that although the web site says that I can collect the prescription after two days it always gives me a date three days away.😕
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I take regular medication and the GP gives me 12x monthly prescriptions . These are electronically sent to the local pharmacy. When I need a prescription I E-mail the pharmacy direct and collect them 2-3 days later but they will deliver if needed. When going on holiday I just explain and ask for 2 prescriptions which I have always received. I am always given 2 prescriptions over the Christmas period anyway. After 12 months I have a review with the GP.
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Both OH and I are on regular medication that we pick up at our local Lloyds chemist 200yds away and on each prescription is the next date of pick up with next review date also (12mths), if we are going to be away the staff at Lloyds send email to Doctors who will give two months ,
They also as does the doctors own pharmacy, deliver to the less mobile
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I don't order my medications on line, I drop them in the relevant box at the surgery, a couple of miles away. They do state it will take 48 hours to process before collection, but I chose to have mine all sent to my local Chemists electronically altho that pushes the delay to a minimum of Four days. That's ideal for me -- order one week, collect the next but I'll Never Never go for the option of having them posted to me 'cos my insulin has to be kept in a fridge not in a Postie's van or mail pouch !!
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I order repeat prescriptions online but collect in person from the surgery and, if in town, have the prescription dispensed whilst I have a coffee. Maybe, in the future, I might find it helpful to have things delivered to my door but, whilst I can, I prefer to do things myself.
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We order our repeat prescriptions on line, then we can choose to collect them or have them sent to a local pharmacy of our choice, this takes 48 hours minimum.
We then collect the items at our convenience, though I believe most of them do also offer a delivery service if you cannot make it to the pharmacy.
We get 2 months at a time and can request 3 months if going away, but for longer than that our surgery suggests gradually stockpiling during the year, so we have to plan ahead.
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Pharmacy2U have recently been "done" for selling patient data.
http://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/regulator-schedules-ftp-hearings-pharmacy2u-directors
and
http://www.chemistanddruggist.co.uk/news/pharmacy2us-fitness-practise-hearing-it-happens
I wouldn't use them.
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