nhs is a joke

MissG_2

I am so angry with the NHS; I went to the doctors yesterday to see the nurse as I have had a bad cough now for about 3 weeks that isn't shifting. I seen the nurse and was told as I am a new patient I won't be able to get my prescription until tomorrow lunchtime as the is no doctor to sign the prescription as it has to be handwritten for me.
I have been with them over a year now and I am still classed as a new patient due to the fact that they have not been bothered to put me onto the system.
I went back just after 12 this afternoon and was told that the hasn't been a doctor in all week and the not sure if the was one coming in today to sign the prescriptions. I got the woman to ring and find out as it is painful on my chest when I cough, the woman told me to come back at 5:15 as they will be ready then. I went back and the prescription was signed for.
I am so angry that I had to go without the medication (inhaler) that they had prescribed for me for 2 days you could say. :mad: :mad: :mad:
I then found out that the prescriptions have been put up again to £6.65 each, if the wait wasn't a big enough smack in my face the cost of 2 prescriptions was:mad: :mad:

Lady_S

Its rubbish.

I am waiting for am operation to save the sight in my right eye. I was due to have it today,and they rang me last night and cancelled, I got my new date, 10th June, its joke.

I have already waited 3 weeks, now I have to wait another 3 weeks because they cancelled. I feel I have been put to the back of the queue.

LondonDiva

Sorry that you've had a bad experience, would recommend ringing/asking the practice manager for a chat to try and get it sorted out asap. It sounds as if there may be some confusion somewhere.

MissG wrote:

I then found out that the prescriptions have been put up again to £6.65 each, if the wait wasn't a big enough smack in my face the cost of 2 prescriptions was:mad: :mad:

However - I bet the cost price of the medication and the actual inhaler is about or more than £6.65

The cost of the prescription covers stuff as basic as the inhaler, but would also cover the cost of medication that can run up to £20,000 per year.

It's swings and roundabouts.

If you needed medication and various bits that cost over £20k per year, you'd be very grateful for the precription cost.

Thriftylady

Its frustrating - the NHS is in a bad way, but every time I find myself getting annoyed with it I have to take a step back and remind myself that it also does some amazing work. And although it could certainly be improved, and more efficient, it also offers me (and probably most other 'average' working people), a level of healthcare that I could never afford to pay for up front myself.

But prescription costs do grate a bit - I remember being on a very low income, but not being exempt from prescription costs, and they were crippling...

Poppy9

Currently prescription charges in Wales are just £3 per item. They will eventually become free. Welsh Assembly reasoning is that a very small percentage of patients actually pay prescription charges and the administrative burden of the charges (and possible fraud) is more than the cost of giving free prescriptions.

They have some measures in place to stop English patients crossing the border. Don't know how successful this is though.

MissG_2

LondonDiva wrote:

It sounds as if there may be some confusion somewhere.
However - I bet the cost price of the medication and the actual inhaler is about or more than £6.65

Confusion in what way?

I am sure it would be allot more but when you can't work and only get DLA and incapacity then have to pay the mortgage, council tax, gas and electricity, water, food, etc its a big dip in the pocket. I can't get any other benefits and have not tried to as I know my partner earns too much, I don't see any of his money as he has his own outgoings and that is his money.

I do appreciate the costs but it is hard going and it seems to be going up and up.

Poppy9

MissG wrote:

I can't get any other benefits and have not tried to as I know my partner earns too much, I don't see any of his money as he has his own outgoings and that is his money.

Not much of a partnership then? Haven't you learnt that a partnership, like a marriage is based on what's mine is mine and what's his is mine;)

MissG_2

Poppy9 wrote:

Not much of a partnership then? Haven't you learnt that a partnership, like a marriage is based on what's mine is mine and what's his is mine;)

We do have a good partnership, that’s the way I chose it to be as I like to make my own way.

hardpressed

It sounds as if it was a branch surgery that you visited if they don't have a doctor on the premises all day. Like somebody else said, get on to the practice manager PDQ and find out what's going on. If you need an inhaler you should be able to get one straight away.

ariba10

I have been in hospital four times in the last twelve years. Three times for serious operations and have nothing but praise for the service and staff.

Thank goodness we have them.

Js_Other_Half

hardpressed wrote:

If you need an inhaler you should be able to get one straight away.

I've had to wait several days (on more than one occasion) to get a repeat prescription for a steroid inhaler - even though I made the practise aware that I had completely run out (and yes, I know that I should monitor it better, but life happens ).