ElyDave said:
It's a right PITA when I need to stock up for 3 weeks because I'll be away with work and not able to get back to the chemist again fro a while.
My local branch of Boots is on their final warning :twisted:
:clap:
Mind you, it's a right PITA full stop :!:
After 30+ years of paper requests and arguments with GP's, PCT's and Chemists over quantities, type, trade name, etc., etc., etc., I can honestly say that I am :sick: of the whole bureaucratic UK prescription system.
Not only that, why is it that I need to request a new 'exemption certificate' every five years? Is there something that they know that they're not telling the rest of us... like a) there's a cure for T1D, or that b) they know 3/5 of 5/8 of sweet FA when it comes to efficient healthcare management :?:
By now, I would have thought it quite feasible to have an exemption card that is just like a bank card: Chip and Pin, with photo ID and data that tells the chemist what I'm entitled to receive free of charge upon presentation of an itemised list. That list could be generated via a secure NHS provided website that enables us to select the items we need - this is then verified by one's GP at the 'click' of a mouse button. The requester would then be presented with the option to 'appoint' an appropriate chemist, who then receives an automatically generated post to their procurement system with the relevant data.
The system could be so effective that you should be able to 'request' your items by 4pm on day one and collect them by 12.00 on day 2 (subject to stock, of course).
Your chip and pin card would then be used to verify your identity and entitlements - it could also serve as an intermediate / emergency supply 'payment' method... I've had many occasions when I've forgotten to bring an extra tub of strips with me, only to discover that I've run out once I arrived at the office. The only solution was to buy a pack of strips at retail price (£25) as wrk was 1.5 hours from home.
Well, that's my :idea: moment for today.