I was supposed to have a repeat electronic prescription. It didn't go through. I had to telephone the surgery after visiting the pharmacy. It took nearly half an hour for the reception to answer. I was told there was 'a glitch' with the electronic prescription service and that I would have to visit the surgery to collect a paper prescription. I went to the surgery. The receptionist sat with their back to the waiting area unresponsive, chatting about matters that were not work related. After some minutes the receptionist turned around. I asked the receptionist to check all the prescription details and confirm that the prescription would continue as an electronic prescription. The receptionist handed me the paper prescription. I went back to the pharmacy (the second visit that day) only to be told by the pharmacist that the paper prescription wasn't printed properly and that they would not be able to issue the medication. I asked the pharmacist to call the surgery. It took 35 minutes for the surgery to answer the pharmacist during which time I had to wait!! The surgery said they would fax the prescription to the pharmacist. Why didn't they do that in the first place? This was February 2021 during a pandemic/lockdown!!!!! I waited another 10 minutes by which time the fax did not arrive. The surgery and pharmacy are a mile apart. I returned to the surgery. I asked to speak to the reception manager. The manager was hardly apologetic about the fiasco - and tried to convince me I was responsible for the errors; claiming I had changed my details. I had not changed my details. The manager then accused me of shouting and being aggressive. We were standing in the waiting area more than 2 metres apart, and talking through masks. I was trying to ensure we were communicating clearly. The manager then informed me they had had problems with the prescription printer - yes, obviously!! So why didn't the receptionist check that the prescription was printed properly? Forgive me, as the patient, for assuming a GP surgery is capable (reliably) of printing a prescription properly. I sent an email, a formal complaint, to the surgery, on 8th February 2021. The reception manager informed me the complaint had been forwarded. As of 14th April 2021, I have not had a reply. This negative experience is one of several involving the surgeries administration of my medication - an administration that seems to be getting worse. Whoever is responsible for these errors (the practice manager?) has not, as yet (14th April 2021), apologised formally nor responded with any reassurances, about the competency of the staff and the proper maintenance of the surgery facilities.This lack of response is disturbing in itself and possibly indicative of the ethos of the practice - whereby, as a patient, I think I am simply meant to serve the needs of the practice however badly it manages the service.
"Is this exceptionally inept administration?"
About: The Old Church Surgery The Old Church Surgery Chingford E4 6UN
Posted via nhs.uk
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