Practical Advice Pharmacy in the UK that won't dispense meds
- Thread starter may71
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So I think the issue that she's had for a long time is that she tried changing doctors (to one closer to her) a long time ago, but the new doctor said he would not prescribe any medication prescribed by another doctor. This would mean that she couldn't get any of the medication that's been prescribed to her by specialists, and it took a very long time to get appointments with specialists and to get that medication prescribed.
So she's maintained her old address as her official address, and Pharmacy2u is only going to deliver to someone's official address.
So she's maintained her old address as her official address, and Pharmacy2u is only going to deliver to someone's official address.
Though a GP is not obliged to continue prescribing medication from a previous doctor when taking on a new patient without a review, I would've thought that what with continuity of care being a key NHS principle, they would seek a shared care agreement or further communication with the specialist(s) that intitiated the patient's treatment.
Surprised that this has been allowed to get this far particularly as there is a care coordinator in the mix whose remits usually involve dealing with scenarios such as these. Just a passing thought and in no way meaning to pass judgment, but is there a possibility that your friend is currently in a state of mind where she just wishes to "down tools" and seek obstacles to getting her meds/care even when there are solurions avaible?
As an aside, Pharmacy2U. Best of luck to anyone who wishes to use that outfit to get their meds dispensed. Not a company I'd ever recommend.
Surprised that this has been allowed to get this far particularly as there is a care coordinator in the mix whose remits usually involve dealing with scenarios such as these. Just a passing thought and in no way meaning to pass judgment, but is there a possibility that your friend is currently in a state of mind where she just wishes to "down tools" and seek obstacles to getting her meds/care even when there are solurions avaible?
As an aside, Pharmacy2U. Best of luck to anyone who wishes to use that outfit to get their meds dispensed. Not a company I'd ever recommend.
She has a lot of serious physical and mental health issues. I can't help but wonder if the GP in question would simply rather not have quite so many very sick patients, and so the notion of not prescribing another doctor's prescriptions would be bureaucratic loophole that could be used to avoid providing care.
On the other hand, if there were a new local doctor who would be willing to at least prescribe her most critical medications right away, that might be a step in the right direction, though presumably there would still be the problem that her local pharmacies are refusing to give her medication.
She can get frightened of some solutions, like adult social care, but it does seem she has reasons to be frightened. She can get frustrated with obstacles and insist that she'll just go it alone.
I think she's really trying though, it's just that the system can be difficult to navigate, and all the more so if you're very sick and don't have any money.
On the other hand, if there were a new local doctor who would be willing to at least prescribe her most critical medications right away, that might be a step in the right direction, though presumably there would still be the problem that her local pharmacies are refusing to give her medication.
She can get frightened of some solutions, like adult social care, but it does seem she has reasons to be frightened. She can get frustrated with obstacles and insist that she'll just go it alone.
I think she's really trying though, it's just that the system can be difficult to navigate, and all the more so if you're very sick and don't have any money.
My friend was able to get a bit of money and picked up her medication from her old pharmacy. She also went to the appointment with her care co, but her care co said she had booked the wrong time so she didn't get to see her.
She also got a text from a new woman claiming to be her care co, but she's never heard of her before. This new care co has apparently raised a safeguarding referral and has contacted her GP because she hasn't been taking her medication (I'm not sure if the new care co knows about the issue of not being able to pick up her medication).
So some issues related to all of this:
1. Can the NHS just assign a new care co, or more than one care co simultaneously?
2. She's frightened of the safeguarding referral and doesn't want to go to the hospital. Is there anything she can do to avoid that?
3. In addition to having trouble getting her medication, there's also medication that she doesn't want to take:
If she doesn't want to take tramadol, I don't see any reason why she should. The rest it seems like there's good reason to take these, especially meds for bipolar. I don't see any reason to think that quetiapine is addictive.
She's also objecting to quetiapine because she claims not to have bipolar, though it's pretty clear to me, and presumably her doctor, that she does. She's objecting to it because she sleeps too much and has low energy when taking it. One of the problems is that when she's in the manic phase, she feels like having lots of energy and not sleeping at all is something good, rather than a symptom.
I'm thinking that this new care co seems to be a lot more active. Maybe she can be convinced to straighten out her pharmacy issue.
My hope is that she can avoid hospitalization if she agrees to take at least most of her meds, and maybe she can consult with her GP about reducing or eliminating at least some of her medication.
I'm going to try to convince her to at least take quetiapine on schedule and then try to work out the rest.
She also got a text from a new woman claiming to be her care co, but she's never heard of her before. This new care co has apparently raised a safeguarding referral and has contacted her GP because she hasn't been taking her medication (I'm not sure if the new care co knows about the issue of not being able to pick up her medication).
So some issues related to all of this:
1. Can the NHS just assign a new care co, or more than one care co simultaneously?
2. She's frightened of the safeguarding referral and doesn't want to go to the hospital. Is there anything she can do to avoid that?
3. In addition to having trouble getting her medication, there's also medication that she doesn't want to take:
If she doesn't want to take tramadol, I don't see any reason why she should. The rest it seems like there's good reason to take these, especially meds for bipolar. I don't see any reason to think that quetiapine is addictive.
She's also objecting to quetiapine because she claims not to have bipolar, though it's pretty clear to me, and presumably her doctor, that she does. She's objecting to it because she sleeps too much and has low energy when taking it. One of the problems is that when she's in the manic phase, she feels like having lots of energy and not sleeping at all is something good, rather than a symptom.
I'm thinking that this new care co seems to be a lot more active. Maybe she can be convinced to straighten out her pharmacy issue.
My hope is that she can avoid hospitalization if she agrees to take at least most of her meds, and maybe she can consult with her GP about reducing or eliminating at least some of her medication.
I'm going to try to convince her to at least take quetiapine on schedule and then try to work out the rest.
Her doctor wants her to go to the hospital, but she's refusing. She's frightened of going in. They also apparently don't know where she is living, so that might be part of why she hasn't been forced in yet.
This is the advice I gave her:
It's probably best to agree to go to the hospital, but try to negotiate some terms:
1 That your dogs will be ok and that you'll get them back soon if you can show that you're stable and taking your meds
2 The pharmacy issue should be straightened out and they should not pose an obstacle to getting your meds
3 If there are meds that you don't like or that produce bad side effects, your doctor will discuss making changes in your prescriptions
The fact that you were taking your meds before the pharmacy refused to give them to you will probably count in your favor.
Fighting this is just going to make everything worse. I think you have to go in if they want you to, but just try to get those terms.
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Any feedback on this?
This is the advice I gave her:
It's probably best to agree to go to the hospital, but try to negotiate some terms:
1 That your dogs will be ok and that you'll get them back soon if you can show that you're stable and taking your meds
2 The pharmacy issue should be straightened out and they should not pose an obstacle to getting your meds
3 If there are meds that you don't like or that produce bad side effects, your doctor will discuss making changes in your prescriptions
The fact that you were taking your meds before the pharmacy refused to give them to you will probably count in your favor.
Fighting this is just going to make everything worse. I think you have to go in if they want you to, but just try to get those terms.
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Any feedback on this?