Boots in Canary Wharf & NHS prescriptions

asea

:mad:

I was very ill & went to my GP who prescribed me some medicine & told me that I had to start taking them immediately. I was quite incapacitated. I made it to Boots in Canary Wharf on the morning after, in a lot of pain. Only to be told by the girl behind the pharmacist's counter that I would have to wait until the following evening as they do not do NHS prescriptions at that branch. They send them to another Boots & then get the prescription sent back the following day.

I am SO angry about this. I had to basically find another pharmacist in Canary Wharf (couldn't!) so ended up having to take a cab to Canada Water (which I really can't afford but I couldn't bear the thought of being on the tube in that much pain) to get my prescription filled. What kind of arrogance is it to not fill out NHS prescriptions but to fill private ones? Arrghhhhh

hollydays

Perhaps its a market forces thing?Why not ring Boots Customer Services at Head Office,and ask>They are very customer friendly.

asea

I will write them an email I think. I feel quite strongly about this.

molerat

You will probably find that they are not licenced to dispense NHS prescriptions under the "control of entry" rules which limits the number of pharmacies in the area. Not their fault really. My local Boots does not dispense for that reason.

Blacksheep1979

Is it really boots fault that they don't opperate a pharmacy near you? Why not complain to Lloyds pharmacy as well or any others that you can think of. Infact I think by offering above and beyond (by saying they'll get the prescription shipped in) they have offered a good service.

hollydays

Perhaps this has to do with them being small and not having a Pharmacist on the premesis full time?If that was the case,perhaps they explained it to you badly.Edit- read your following posts-guess thats probably not the case.

asea

Blacksheep1979 wrote: »

Is it really boots fault that they don't opperate a pharmacy near you? Why not complain to Lloyds pharmacy as well or any others that you can think of. Infact I think by offering above and beyond (by saying they'll get the prescription shipped in) they have offered a good service.

Err, perhaps you misread my initial post - they DO operate a working dispensing pharmacy & an in-house pharmacist - they just won't do NHS prescriptions - only private ones

sarahg1969

asea wrote: »

Err, perhaps you misread my initial post - they DO operate a working dispensing pharmacy & an in-house pharmacist - they just won't do NHS prescriptions - only private ones

They are probably not allowed a licence because there are already other pharmacies in the area. Our local Boots was like that. They could only dispense private prescriptions and not NHS ones.

Not their fault, really, is it?

rosysparkle

If it's the NHS that prevents them dispensing prescriptions, surely your gripe is with the NHS and not Boots?

Blacksheep1979

asea wrote: »

Err, perhaps you misread my initial post - they DO operate a working dispensing pharmacy & an in-house pharmacist - they just won't do NHS prescriptions - only private ones

Err, perhaps I didn't misread it - nowhere does it say that they do private prescriptions, only that they don't do NHS ones.

asea wrote: »

to be told by the girl behind the pharmacist's counter that I would have to wait until the following evening as they do not do NHS prescriptions at that branch

And as someone has pointed out if they do prescriptions there but only private ones your beef is with the NHS not boots - what right minded business would deliberatley reduce its potential customer base?

asea

I've just spoken to Boots & they say that it is not their policy at this branch of Boots & that they will be investigating & letting me know. The man on the phone was quite horrified when I told him. Will post when I get an official response