"Troubles getting Prescription Contraceptive Pill"

I was running out of my contraceptive pill and rung a few times after half past 8 (when I couldn’t get through) and they didn’t have any appointments.

I rang through on a Friday and was told I’d receive a telephone appointment, it’s only a prescription request so I thought it would be a quick job. It got to half past three and I still hadn’t heard anything, I rang as I work relatively close to the clinic and asked if I could pop in and collect a prescription as I would be driving past but I couldn’t do this without a prescription. Understanding I said no worries and that I would wait, but no one rang me. I was at the end of my prescription as I had been struggling to get an appointment. They advised they are open on Saturday so may be able to speak to me the next day and pick up tomorrow. They didn’t ring me on Saturday either.

I waited until Monday and went without my prescription in the morning, I rang at around 10 to be told again that they had no appointments, I explained that I was supposed to be rung on the Friday before and I had no pills left and I was put on hold, the receptionist came back off hold to tell me that all the appointments were gone for the day so to just hold on again, which made me feel like I was an inconvenience even though I was supposed to have an appointment the previous Friday.

The receptionist came back and said someone would call me back, within 3 hours I received a phone call back and was on the phone for 3 minutes to be told I could have my prescription posted, I asked if I could collect as I work within 2 minutes and they said they would rather it be posted but I could collect at half 5. I couldn’t understand why I had to wait till half five to collect. I accepted and carried on with my working day. A colleague popped into my office and asked me what time the meeting finished this evening and without thinking I said 6 and realised I had double booked, so I rang the clinic back, to ask if I could have an earlier appointment or if my husband could collect my prescription, again I felt as if it was an inconvenience to even ask questions. I was offered a half past two appointment which I couldn’t do, so they went off to find out if my husband could collect my pill. They came back and said this wouldn’t be a problem.

What I can’t understand is if my husband can collect my prescription and I didn’t need to be seen, why this couldn’t be left with reception and I could’ve collected this at 4 when I finished work? As I could’ve had a 2:30 appointment so it’s not as if it wouldn’t have been ready and nothing has changed medically since my previous and I am aware of the instruction.

I feel the receptionist made the experience uncomfortable like it’s their own personal time they are giving up for a service which should be non judgemental.