Advice needed on using an NHS online pharmacy

herbalme

Hi all,

Just looking for a bit of advice / experiences.

My dad’s local pharmacy is closing down soon, which is a bit of a pain as it was really convenient for him to walk to. The next nearest one isn’t very close, so I’m starting to look into online pharmacies that handle NHS prescriptions and deliver.

I’ve seen a few options online but not sure how reliable they are in practice – especially when it comes to delivery times, repeat prescriptions, and general ease of use.

Has anyone used one of these services for NHS prescriptions?
Are they generally smooth to deal with or do you run into delays/issues?

Just want to make sure it’s something dependable before switching him over.

Thanks in advance

MyRealNameToo

We use a firm called Signature Pharmacy.

We deal with requesting the prescription ourselves, use the NHS app to do so, it confirms it will be sent digitally to Signature.

GP typically raises the prescription the next working day, end of that day/start of next get an email from Signature saying they have the prescription. Either way by the end of the day after the prescription was created get a notification its with the courier and its delivered the next day.

Not had any material problems other than the usual of Royal Mail (or DPD they use occasionally) only giving a whole day ETA for the delivery until the day itself. After a bank holiday it can be a touch slower, maybe an extra day or two, but otherwise it's been fine. Occasionally they split things over two packets for unknown reasons so a bit wasteful from a materials perspective.

On one occasion the Mrs missed both the DPD attempts but Signature just resent it the next day by Royal Mail this time. These are cold store medicines and they come well packed with frozen gels so even on the second delivery they are still chilled.

We have medical exemption but imagine if you pay for your prescription then it will be similar to our private scripts with them where after the acknowledgement email you get an email with a link to pay the costs; obviously the thing goes on hold until you've paid.

Back when we used the local Boots there were various problems, often with the GP making a mistake and printing a physical prescription rather than digitally sending it to boots. Boots could sit on a prescription for several days before preparing it etc. None of that has happened since being able to switch to the NHS app and Signature.

The reason we went to them in the first place was they were better at getting stuff that Boots was struggling with and for private prescriptions (at least for our meds) they were cheaper. They also operate the system that the private prescription was issued in so assumed they must be a reasonable size but on checking companies house they are tiny.

elsien

Parent has had a good experience with her although I can’t remember who they are off the top of my head.

You need to bear in mind though that they do use Royal mail who are going down the pan at speed, so delivery times will be variable depending on where you live and how efficient the sorting office is.

Blessdays

I’ve used an online pharmacy for my parents as well and it’s been pretty smooth overall.

We use Click Pharmacy (clickpharmacy.co.uk) – they have an app system and seem to keep track of when repeats are due, then prompt/request it with the GP which takes a bit of pressure off.

Delivery has generally been reliable, although like others have said it can depend a bit on Royal Mail.

Definitely worth it if getting to a local pharmacy is difficult.

MyRealNameToo

Its parcels so for us RM has never been an issue, its never not come the day after its been sent. Letters are a whole different story but none of our meds would fit in a letter format.

Hammer56

I have been using Pharmacy2U for my mum and dad’s prescriptions for over 5 years.

They both hit 90 during Covid, and increasingly unable to collect in person, with no one local to do it for them, and family several hours drive away, postal deliveries by Royal Mail were a lifeline. It has worked so well we’ve never gone back to personal collection.

You get handy reminders to re-order, re-ordering takes a couple of taps, less than a minute. Depending on what time of day you place the order, the GP approves same day/next day, the order is with Royal Mail within 24 hours of that and delivered two working days later.

For example. I reordered my mum’s Tuesday evening last week, GP approved Wednesday pm, it was fulfilled and Royal Mail picked it up Thursday and it was delivered this Monday just gone.

And of course, they never have don’t anything online themselves, I do it, but I can re-order it for them wherever I am, and as they are housebound now, I know it will be safely delivered on time.

The service has been 100% reliable, I don’t remember it ever taking more than the expected time in the many years of using it.

Therefore the only very minor downside is you can’t get it any quicker if you are late re-ordering… but that is one’s own fault of course. Always order a few days ahead of needing it.

OldDIYer

Pharmacy2U used for several years

Latest repeat prescription ordered yesterday (Wednesday) via NHS app is already in the post, so we'll probably receive it on Saturday, maybe Monday. It's quicker than picking up at a local pharmacy and far more convenient.

Recent prescription requests have all been received within a week via Royal Mail.

Catherine_91

I used Pharmacy2U for about 5 years, but then their payment system refused to accept my new debit card. I'm now back to using a local pharmacy.

Murphybear

My husband and I started using Pharmacy2U when we moved to a rural part of the country.

The second time we used it they sent the wrong meds to him, they were supposed to be sent to someone in Birmingham, we lived in a tiny village on the edge of Dartmoor. My meds arrived eventually, they were diverted twice to Exeter then once to Barnstaple. Fortunately I always order my meds at least a week before I need them.

I made a tactful complaint (I used to teach that amongst other things at evening classes) but they never responded so we made other arrangements.