"General friendliness and explaining ..."

What I liked

General friendliness and explaining my condition. But I didn't like being a victim of the lack of communication between pharmacist and dentist.

What could be improved

I was prescribed prednisolone tablets 5 mg to be dissolved in water to be used as a mouthwash. The last time I was prescribed this medication (September 2009) I had a problem as the pharamcist refused to give me the tablets as the prescription did not state "soluble" prednisolone tablets. It was against the law to make up such a presription. I objected as it was obvious it must be soluble to be dissolved in water as was stated on the script. The pharmacist, whilst agreeing it was obvious, still refused and so I wrote in "soluble" myself and took it to another chemist. I was very upset and angry. This time the problem was that the size of tablet wasn't specified. This pharmacist was good enough to phone the dental hospital herself and I collected the tablets the next day. I reported all this to the student dental surgeon and he said he thought the first pharmacist was being unnecessarily careful and should have given me the tablets. However he wrote in "soluble" when I asked him to do so on my next script. The 3rd time (3rd Feb 2010) I again asked the dentist to write "soluble" on the script and she declined, saying it was not necessary, there was only 1 such tablet. I was still thinking it was the first pharmacist who was at fault and accepted the scrip. This time a third pharmacist objected to the fact it did not state "SOLUBLE" on the sript and I objected strongly shouting that I had tried to get the dentist to write "soluble" only to be told it was not necessary and I have done my best and want my medication and am fed up of this ridiculous fiasco. She said there are 3 sorts of this tablet, asked me to wait 5 more minutes and then gave me them. I was by this time extremely stressed. I have an anxiety disorder and need to avoid stress as I quickly become unable to cope. I have suffered a great deal from this war between pharmacicts and the dental hospital staff. I lost sleep and feel like screaming.

Anything else?

I accept in a large, busy hospital that waiting times may be extended, but please could the receptionist tell us, on arrival an aproximate waiting time or if the particular clinic is running late? I was told this after 35 minutes when I asked.