For some time I've been getting my repeat prescriptions via 'systemonline' (wow!) by ordering it from the surgery and taking it to the nearest chemist, but was getting increasingly frustrated by their inability to get it right first time (they often used to stare at 'the computer' as if they'd never dispensed a prescription before!)
I decided to have the prescription sent electronically to my local Boots for collection, where it is easier to park and the staff behind the counter at least look vaguely competent. First time I tried it Boots told me that they hadn't received the prescription.
Having asked them to ring the surgery to discover what had happened to it, it turns out that 'some items on the prescription couldn't be sent electronically' so the process would have to be completed manually.
'What sort of items might we be talking about?' I asked innocently.
'It's usually things like morphine, heroin substitutes and other restricted drugs, but in your case it appears to be your glaucoma eye drops'.
The surgery confirmed that the prescription was actually sitting in their reception waiting for Boots to pick it up manually, which in reality 'they rarely bothered to do because they don't do much business with us'.
On my next visit to the surgery I asked the receptionist why glaucoma eye drops couldn't be ordered electronically and she said 'they're
not restricted, there's no reason why you can't order them electronically.'
Think I might be needing something
highly restricted in the not too distant future!!