"Request for repeat prescription."

My prescription medicine had run out, so I requested a repeat prescription through Patient Access.  Knowing that it would take at least 48 hrs before I could collect the prescription, I went to the pharmacy and explained the situation.  The pharmacist kindly let me have, two weeks supply 'on account'.   

A few days later my husband was passing the pharmacy and I asked him to pick up the prescription for me.   He was told that there was no medication for me. I asked him if the staff had asked for my date of birth, which I assumed that he had got wrong, so a few days later I returned to the pharmacy myself only to find that my medication had not arrived there.

I went back to Patient Access only to discover that my request for a repeat prescription had been rejected, with no further information or reason why it had been rejected.  I tried to ring the surgery, but got a recorded  message asking me to go on line to ask my GP.

back to the computer I asked why my request had been refused.   Some time later the reply came 'you need to have a blood pressure test and a blood test'.

I went to the surgery and made an appointment.  When I went to the appointment I found that it was for the 'Blood Clinic', where  the blood tests were taken.  I asked the health care worker if they could also take my blood pressure, to which the reply was that this was the blood clinic and I only had a 5 minute appointment so they didn't have time to take my blood Pressure.

I went back to the reception desk, explained the situation and asked if someone could take my blood pressure whilst I was here. The receptionist said No!  I asked if they could make me another appointment for a blood pressure test, explaining that it was important, as I could not get my regular medication until I had this done.   As luck would have it another member of the reception team was passing, who told me that there was a self check machine in an alcove just of the waiting room.

Several days later I received a letter from the practice say in that I should have another blood test in 2 months time, and a referral form had been left for me in reception.

Back to the surgery, where the form was waiting for me, but when I asked if my  prescription could now be collected, as I had had the required tests I was told that I would have to make another request.  This done I asked why I had not been informed  that I needed the tests before my prescription was renewed and was told that a doctor would have texted me.  I  explained that I didn't have a mobile phone and didn't  believe that my landline could receive texts, and was told that a doctor would have phoned me.  I had no such call, nor have I had one subsequently.   Fortunately my second request for a repeat prescription was eventually granted, just before my 'on account' drugs ran out.

Thank Heavens for my local pharmacist!