Repeat prescriptions

[Poppy9]

I rang today for a repeat prescription for OH for his two asthma inhalers. The receptionist told me he couldn't have them as he only had it 2 weeks ago. I explained that he normally has spares of both his inhalers but had used these up and the only inhalers he had at the moment were the ones in use for hte last two weeks.

She told me they don't allow you to have spare inhalers. OH has always had spare inhalers but he had forgotten to order repeat and just used his spares up and still kept forgetting to ring at the right time for repeats. He can only ring mornings for his repeat and he works shifts so hence he forgets but I remind him when I remember he might be running low.

When first prescribed inhalers was told by the GP to always make sure she had spares, when OH ran out a couple of years ago on a Saturday and the Pharmacist gave him the inhalers he told him to always keep spares and I'm sure if he made an appointment with the GP he would just give him a prescription. So could they please tell their receptionists this.

Instead the receptionist told me in her best condescending voice she would speak to the doctor to see if he would prescribe.

I so wish OH would change to mine and DD practice. We order repeats online and get an email reminder every month to see if we need to renew.

[alison999]

The receptionist was just doing her job, I dont get what your problem is. If he wants spares and these arent available through the repeat prescription service then maybe he should make a appointment.

If he was more organised he wouldnt need spares anyway.

[Poppy9]

The receptionist was just doing her job, I dont get what your problem is. If he wants spares and these arent available through the repeat prescription service then maybe he should make a appointment.

If he was more organised he wouldnt need spares anyway.

My main problem was the receptionist attitude, she was totally unhelpful.

Its a waste of his and GPs time to have an appointment just to get a repeat prescription and a notice is up in my practice to say you must not make an appointment for a repeat prescription but to speak to receptionist.

While he is usually organised, he's had asthma for over 25 years only once has he had to get an emergency inhaler from pharmacist and he had rung to order repeats at the begining of January but he was unaware they had changed the time for ordering repeats to 9am-11 am so he meant to ring back the next day. However he was working and he can't always make calls during his working day at specified times or he might be asleep after working.

He did ring while using his spares 2 weeks ago to get new inhalers but obviously these will run out within 2 weeks and if he accidently leaves them in work he is stuffed. He normally keeps 2 in his locker in worker and 2 at home. He works 12 hour shifts minimum so it's sensible to split his inhalers this way.

The advice from GP and Pharmacist is to have spare inhalers. It's only this receptionist who seems oblivious to this.

I did ring back at 5.30 tonight to see if they would issue a new prescription and had a different receptionist who checked and said they were in the system and the prescription would be available for collection after midday Friday. I did ask if there was a problem as other person had said he wasn't allowed spares and had a prescription 2 weeks ago etc. and she said "no, we always advise patients to have spares of inhalers as they often get mislaid or run out unexpectedly as you can't see how much is left".

That was a good point made by the second person I spoke to about not being able to see how much is left in an inhaler. He judges by shaking it to try to guess.

[noonesperfect]

It really does make you wonder about some people doesn't it?!

It's not just a case of having a spare in case he runs out, what if God forbid, the inhaler blocks up...there's hardly time to clean it if he's having an attack!! I detest these jobsworths :mad: . I know that their computer "system" will throw a wobbly if medicines are asked for "too soon" (apparent over-use), but your other half can't be alone in forgeting to order in time now and again.

If he doesn't want to change practices could you have a system whereby you post a request every 4-6 weeks then he could just go and pick the inhalers up? Neither mine nor my OH's GP will take repeat prescription requests over the phone. But his will do as yours does and can order via email.

My OH has his reliever inhalers all over the place so he's never far away from one!!! i.e. bedside, coffee table, desk, his car and my car. Plus he usually has one in his outdoor jacket !!!!!!!

[annie2005]

One way to get an extra set of medication is to say that you dropped it down the toilet. Don't laugh but this genuinely happened to me. Was putting in eyedrops and instead of putting the bottle back down on the sink missed and down the toilet it went. The receptionist said that it happened all the time. That and lost hand bags etc. It also used to be the case at my surgery that they would issue an extra dose of meds if you were going on holiday so that you could take precautions in case of delays travelling or lost luggage. Don't know if this is still allowed though.

[soapsudsandsalts]

i always have spares

[Poppy9]

He normally relies on setting a reminder on his phone. This works as it reminds him to ring but if the line is busy or as he was told before Xmas "sorry there's a new printer being fitted please ring back" then he forgets.

Is inhalers are important to him as he has a physical job that involves chasing people!!:D

He had a nasty attack last Friday and Saturday night due to building work in the house, thought we were off to A&E!

I'll have to remember the loo one next time.

I'm going to ask the chemist up the road if he does a repeat service. A friend told me tonight that his chemist orders his repeat for him and delivers to his house for free.

[donteatthat]

I always manage to have quite a few spares from my doctor without a problem - I put my repeats in at boots and the only time I've not got what I asked for was when I totally ran out of ventolin and asked for 2 on the one script. But I put another repeat in as soon as I collected the first one and they let me have it even though it was a matter of days.

[moneysaving pharmacist]

Is inhalers are important to him as he has a physical job that involves chasing people!!:D



That sounds to me like his asthma is not well controlled. When did he last have an asthma check up? Salbutamol should only need to be used occasionally, not regularly.

[soapsudsandsalts]

i always use salbutamol i never use the brown one i found that it bought on my asthma i now have been able to control my asthma to a point of using it once a mth instead of everyday

[Valley's girl]

That sounds to me like his asthma is not well controlled. When did he last have an asthma check up? Salbutamol should only need to be used occasionally, not regularly.

I agree, try and make an appointment to see the doctor.
Best wishes
Ally

[Poppy9]

That sounds to me like his asthma is not well controlled. When did he last have an asthma check up? Salbutamol should only need to be used occasionally, not regularly.

He goes when called to Asthma clinic. Generally well controlled with a green and brown preventative which he takes daily. He works 12 hour shifts but can be retained on duty for much, much longer. If he doesn't have a set in his locker and a set at home and he forgets to take them when he leaves for work at 6am then it's a long time to wait till he comes home at 7.30pm to take his missed dose. Other shifts are night shifts, again at least 12 hours. With them in work he can take them if needed. His preventatives have to be taken regularly and missing a dose can leave him vuneralbe.

He rarely uses a reliever, last week he was bad due to building work in the house and dust. Otherwise it's usually if he has a bad cold or been around cats for too long.

[moneysaving pharmacist]

He goes when called to Asthma clinic. Generally well controlled with a green and brown preventative which he takes daily. He works 12 hour shifts but can be retained on duty for much, much longer. If he doesn't have a set in his locker and a set at home and he forgets to take them when he leaves for work at 6am then it's a long time to wait till he comes home at 7.30pm to take his missed dose. Other shifts are night shifts, again at least 12 hours. With them in work he can take them if needed. His preventatives have to be taken regularly and missing a dose can leave him vuneralbe.

He rarely uses a reliever, last week he was bad due to building work in the house and dust. Otherwise it's usually if he has a bad cold or been around cats for too long.

That's good - but many asthmatics are not well controlled.

Some inhalers have counters on the showing the number of doses left - his green one should do. There are also combination inhalers available which would mean he only had to use one inhaler, and all the combination ones have dose counters on them.

[Poppy9]

That's good - but many asthmatics are not well controlled.

Some inhalers have counters on the showing the number of doses left - his green one should do. There are also combination inhalers available which would mean he only had to use one inhaler, and all the combination ones have dose counters on them.

Are the combination and ones with counters more expensive?

DD has these which don't require a spacer and have counters on.


BUDESONIDE 200mcg bth-act inh
TERBUTALINE 500mcg bth-act inhBut OH has

Serevent
ClenilHe has to take his via a spacer plus he has normal reliever.

He did use DD Terbutaline last week after about an hour when his chest was bad and his reliever wasn't helping. He improved quickly after this and was going to ask for one at his next appointment. Don't know whether they will give it to him though if it's more expensive and he has no need to use it regularly.

[squibbs25]

Just a thought re the prescription, i re-oder my dd's inhalers via the chemists.
I phone them for a repeat prescription and i collect a couple of days later.
My GP has always said dd should have at least one inhaler spare (of each kind).
Also do hubbys repeat prescriptions the same way via chemist.

[noonesperfect]

My OH is on the same meds as yours Poppy but he has COPD and asthma.

His GP tried him on combination inhalers but he couldn't get on with them at all and reverted back to two preventers and a reliever.
He is also badly affected by the cold and is allergic to cats!! (though in the case of mogs - it's his eyes that are affected more than anything!)

[Poppy9]

We did ask the pharmacist about combination inhalers and she explained in far too much detail for me:o of what he would get instead and the pros and cons of them. She did say that he might not find them as effective and would need to discuss at his next Asthma clinic appointment but he hasn't been able to attend the clinic as it's only once a month and his shifts have clashed.

[noonesperfect]

If there's a nurse at his GP's surgery who specializes in asthma care, could he make an appointment at a time to suit him?
That's what my OH does!

[Poppy9]

If there's a nurse at his GP's surgery who specializes in asthma care, could he make an appointment at a time to suit him?
That's what my OH does!

Nope. They aren't that flexible he would have to see a doctor. Sometimes he just books in if he working and if he can get away he goes to appointment and if he can't he can't. He does warn them that he might not turn up but as it seems to be an open clinic it's not a problem.