Text to Speech apps

ripplyuk

I have neurological problems affecting my speech amongst other things. At times I cannot speak at all or it is slurred/incoherent. This can last from a few hours to a few weeks. This is causing problems with ordering my repeat prescriptions. I’ve been on these meds for about 20yrs and used to order them on patient access online but, for some reason, this new GP decided to remove a few of them from that. So, I had to email the practice every month to order those ones instead. A few months ago, the GP decided to stop using email and told me I have to ring up but that’s no use when I can’t speak so I tried using BT Relay. It’s a nightmare to use. The GP receptionist often hangs up and I can’t type fast enough. The relay operator can’t pronounce any of the drug names correctly and the whole thing becomes a confusing mess for everyone. 

Are there any other apps that could help with this? It doesn’t have to be free. 

marcia_

 I would suggest an appointment with the GP to discuss why they have removed your ability to use the app to order all of your medications. Explain the difficulties you have ordering by phone and also raise it with the practice manager as something they should be doing as a reasonable adjustment for your disability. 

DullGreyGuy

I would have thought BT Relay is the most likely point of success given there is a human there telling the receptionist you are typing -v- just silence they'd have were you to use a text to speech app. 

Used to have nightmares getting repeat prescriptions with our GP as they won't accept them on the phone, won't accept email, they used to accept fax so used an email to fax service or written requests dropped into them or your local nominated pharmacy. 

Ours now supports repeat prescriptions via the NHS App which is fantastic for anything on repeat. For those not on repeat they've now got a request mechanism on their website. Bit of a pain but submit the request, within 24hours either get a text saying the prescriptions been raised or a link to book an appointment to explain why asking for it. 

Given you can order via the Patent Access why not ask them to reinstate your other meds back onto repeat? Also, if it's been stable on them for 20 years why only a month at a time? I know it's "good practice" but most doctors are willing to go to 3 months for things for stable chronic conditions. 

ripplyuk

marcia_ said:

 I would suggest an appointment with the GP to discuss why they have removed your ability to use the app to order all of your medications. Explain the difficulties you have ordering by phone and also raise it with the practice manager as something they should be doing as a reasonable adjustment for your disability. 

I did speak to the practice manager about this previously but they just said that they don’t give those particular meds on repeat. They didn’t give a reason why, except that it’s ‘practice policy’. I can’t speak to the GP about it because it’s not a medical issue so the receptionist won’t let me book one. 

Brie

I agree the NHS app is quite good about repeat prescriptions as not only can you order things but can then add a note as to why you might be ordering earlier than expected or not ordering everything.

You can also use it for making appointments though that is a bit more problematic at our practice as it's only during office hours and only until all the appts are booked up.  

ripplyuk

DullGreyGuy said:

Given you can order via the Patent Access why not ask them to reinstate your other meds back onto repeat? Also, if it's been stable on them for 20 years why only a month at a time? I know it's "good practice" but most doctors are willing to go to 3 months for things for stable chronic conditions. 

I have asked them to reinstate these meds but they refused and said their policy is not to give them on repeat (despite me getting them on repeat for many years!). They also won’t give more than 1 month at a time. 

With BT Relay, the operator does tell them I’m typing but the receptionist hangs up if I take too long. If I rush, I make mistakes. 

marcia_

ripplyuk said:

marcia_ said:

 I would suggest an appointment with the GP to discuss why they have removed your ability to use the app to order all of your medications. Explain the difficulties you have ordering by phone and also raise it with the practice manager as something they should be doing as a reasonable adjustment for your disability. 

I did speak to the practice manager about this previously but they just said that they don’t give those particular meds on repeat. They didn’t give a reason why, except that it’s ‘practice policy’. I can’t speak to the GP about it because it’s not a medical issue so the receptionist won’t let me book one. 

 As you are taking that medication for an ongoing medical condition you definitely can speak to a doctor about how they are prescribing it. I know receptionist in doctors surgeries triage calls and liken themselves to medical professionals but just tell them you are having problems with your medication, no more dont go into details so they give you the appointment. 

teddysmum

How odd. Our , now retired, GPs refused to prescribe over the phone. The current ones prescribe from  call, letter or Patient Access, but I have along list of regulars, so the pharmacy orders from the GP and I inform the pharmacy when the odd drug is not needed. Would this work, as the phone message is only required now and then , besides being short ? Just to add that I include three controlled drugs in the prescription.

Savvy_Sue

I had an issue with my late mother's GP surgery: she was very deaf, so if she was 'home alone' the only way she could contact them was via Text Relay. When I visited I would phone on her behalf, and I was told that it was very difficult when she phoned them with Text Relay because it was so slow, so couldn't I always phone on her behalf? Err, no. I reminded them about Reasonable Adjustments, and I feel you should too. Do you have a Patient Participation Group? You should, or something very similar. A letter to them might be useful. 

Would it be possible to write a letter a week before you need a prescription? Mind you, even that isn't foolproof round here. Something I needed had not been put on repeat, even though it should have been, and the recommended way of getting anything here is via E-Consult - do not get me started on that system. So I wrote a letter, dropped it off to the surgery one Sunday, and waited. After a few days I checked: still no repeat. It took me three more visits to the surgery to get it moving! 

marcia_

Brie said:

I agree the NHS app is quite good about repeat prescriptions as not only can you order things but can then add a note as to why you might be ordering earlier than expected or not ordering everything.

You can also use it for making appointments though that is a bit more problematic at our practice as it's only during office hours and only until all the appts are booked up.  

 This is what I do. I order my repeat and add a note for any additional items that I get occasionally. Never had a problem getting the prescribed that way 

ripplyuk

@Savvy_Sue What is a patient participation group? Is it linked to the GP? 

I could order these repeats by post but the nearest postbox is a few miles away and isn’t collected every day. I can’t order in advance because the practice doesn’t allow that. I have to wait until the day after the meds run out, which I think is daft but those are the rules.