PICK UP AT THE CHEMIST

[froude]

Morning all,
Went to get mine and my partners  script today ,we are both on a weekly pickup and have been going to the same chemist for 2 and a half years,all i ever get is grief,not enough valium,no meth till later,pick up half our script, and then the other half later, the list goes on.Today i plodded down to the chemist, and "sorry your partner will have to wait for her methadone it hasnt turned up".I collected my script and my partners vallium and left,not saying anything incase i really flipped and got myself arrested,came home and got my partner to ring her key worker and tell them what happened,just incase she has to use our doctor in an emergency,because the script hasnt turned up.I even had to wait for an hour for the chemist to do it,weve been going to the chemist for years,you would of thought they would have the sense to do it the day before,or keep on top of ordering the sugar free methadone and diazepam.We come into the chemist at the same time every week,so its not as if we pick up at any old time of day.Everyone out there and the alliance have a good week all the best ian frm wilts.

[simon]

Does it run on locums who aren't ordering any stock and leaving it until it runs out and leaving another pharmacist in the lurch?
It's rare we've had problems like this and it's been because of this reason. A regular pharmacist would be stupid to create all this hassle for themselves or another reason could be too small a safe and too many people picking-up on same day. I ret and stagger peoples weekly pick-ups and never make pick-ups on mondays and fridays to aim to avoid bank holidays and pharmacies busiest times.

[Maddy]

I have recently had very similar problems, not enough subutex, can you come back later, we'll give you todays and the you'll have to pick up daily for a couple of days until we have enough stock....sometimes leaving me over a weekend. Naughty as some treatment providers might say that it is I always work at least a few days ahead...in this game you have to! So, it wasn't the end of the world treatment wise, but damn inconvenient when you work (and inconvenient if you don't I hasten to add).
I raised it with the Pharmacist a couple of times, but never really got any answers and things didn't change. I felt for anyone presenting late in the day with a script (or early sometimes!) expecting to get their meds.
After some pondering I decided to change chemists. I had initially hawked my script around when I first moved to London, seeing where offered a combination of convenience and the best "reception". The chemist that I have changed to initially told me that they don't really deal with CD scripts and would have to order in, however, now they are happy to dispense to me and treat me just as anyone else. I also find that they make sure that they have my subutex in when I need it, maybe because they do especially order in, I don't know, but they are very professional and discreet, something that my other chemist never was, shouting my name and address across the shop and handing me boxes and boxes of subutex over the counter!!
I don't know if there are any other pharmacies near you, I seem to remember that you have told us before that you live in a rural area, although I may have just made that up!! Worth a try though if you're not happy and there are no signs of any improvement with your current chemist.
Take care Ian.......Maddy x

[simon]

Weird most of the pharmacies in our area get two deliveries a day so if we ask for something in the morning it can be in the shop in the afternoon.

[froude]

Morning Maddy moo ,Morning all,Ian frm wilts here,
Finally got the methadone at 5 o clock tea time yesterday .No it isnt locums,obviously they pop up when the usual pharmist is ill or not in.Ive even gone to the chemist to pick up on my usual day, and time ,for the chemist to say she has to leave because the bigger shop 4 miles away hasnt got anyone there to despense perscriptions.So that means i have to wait until they can be bothered to send a locum.Seems to me AH THEIR ONLY EX JUNKIES ,THEYVE PUT THEMSELVES IN THIS POSTION,plus the dirty looks off the locums.Must admit the team im under have to take some of the blame, issueing the perscriptions and posting them the day before our scripts are due,the receptionist has told me that..I have also rang up the team because the script aint there,and the receptionist has basically said if your script dont turn up use herion.All this i have reported ,but at the end of the day we are faceless people to receptionists,who arent councillors,but should at least go on some kind of course so that they can understand the situations that occur.Our pickup day was on a friday,few months ago i changed it to a tuesday,as simon said in his thread you dont put someones perscription to pickup on a friday,if anything goes wrong your running around all day trying to sort it out.Have a good day all. All the best ian frm wilts.

[Jim]

it could just be incompetance rather than prejudice.  I'm on a prescription for statins and several times I've been given a few days supply becaus ethey haven't got enough in.

[froude]

Jim,
Think you could be right there ,incompetence thats what its down to at the end of the day.All the best,Ian frm wilts

[Claire B]

Hi Ian
Simon is correct, most Pharmacies have 2 deliveries every day, except Saturdays when there is one in the morning
I am horrified that they 'run out' on a regular basis. I cant understand it as its not rocket science to know how much you need
The only time I have ever come close to it, was when there was a shortage, but I used another brand(tasted even worse) and I know that stores who dont do Methadone and Subutex will probably not have in, but should be willing to get it in for you, and keep it in
The real problem that we do have is when the scripts dont arrive, and we do have our hands tied then, and cant issue any.
When a new script comes in, and it is for a weeks supply ie 7 bottles, it does actually take quite a bit of time to prepare, and this will increase if other people are also waiting for their medication.
I am sorry that you had to put up with this and if there was another Pharmacy to go to, then I definately would....have you had a good chat with the Pharmacist and told her your concerns, and asked why they seem to have problems?
Jim... the simvastatin will be due to incomptency....but sometimes from the suppliers! We do order things and they dont come in, and it is usually something you needed!!!
Claire

[froude]

thanks claire,ian frm wilts here
Your thread was helpful,cant be bothered to see the pharmist ,sorry to say this as i know and have had  dealings with good and helpful pharmacists ,but this pharmist has his/her ASS SO FAR UP ......his /her...  breath smells off ....  .its down to the attitude "looking down, like me and my partner are something she/he wiped off her/his shoe. :)Have a good day all ,and i apologise for going off on one ,and its not even 9 o .clock yet.ha .hope you all have a good day.Ian frm wilts.

[Jim]

[Jim... the simvastatin will be due to incomptency....but sometimes from the suppliers! We do order things and they dont come in, and it is usually something you needed!!!
Claire

Hi Claire, How do you know I'm on Simvastatin -  spooky -  are you my pharmacist orhave I said it somewhere else, about a year ago I switched from atorvastatin!

[simon]

Jim of course you are it's cheaper and the pharmacists from the PCT tell us which to prescribe.

[jessyrichy]

I really sympathise with you hun!  I have been using the same chemist for 2 years to pick up my weekly dose of meth.  At first, the attitudes of the chemist staff was absolutely disgusting - they thought they could treat me like a piece of shit just coz I went in to collect my "junkie juice".  I told my doctor about how I was being treated and she arranged a meeting with the main pharmacist at the chemist and explained my problem.  After that, I didn't have any problems but I could still feel their dirty looks when I walked out!  A few weeks after the meeting, it all came to a head when one of the chemist staff who I had known for a few years invited me to her Anne Summers party.  I went to her party and noticed that not all of her work collegues attended, when I asked why, she told me it was because she had invited me!  They were obviously expecting me to be "banging up" in the corner while they were playing with their rampant rabbits!!  Anyway, a few days later, I flew into the chemist in a rage and told them all exactly what I thought of them.  The main pharmacist was absolutely disgusted by their attitude and lead a disciplinary investigation resulting in final written warnings and a full training schedule revolved around addiction!  Revenge is a great thing!!  Since then, I have obviously had no problems and even get my methadone instantly without having to wait!  Don't take their shit - if they can't treat you with the respect you deserve, then take it to their head office and make them pay! 

[froude]

Ian frm wilts here,

My local pharmasist has now changed,and i am collecting my script from the same chemist,but a different pharmasist.To my surprise on tuesday i picked up our  weekly perscription with no problems at all.All i had to do was sign our script and i was done,instead of waiting an hour/no meds i was off home.Well impressed,hope they can keep it up.It aint hard only gotta do it once a week.Have a good day everyone.

[Maddy]

I too am having a great time with my new pharmacist. I walk in and they clock me straight away and hand my meds all bagged up ready, no fuss, no waiting, it takes seconds rather than half an hour or more with my previous chemist...and that was if they had any subutex to give me, even though they'd have a months worth of scripts in for me.

Glad that things are easier for you.....life shouldn't be so hard, sometimes I don't understand why it all is and the little things make such a difference....

Maddy x

[skroe]

I'm really lucky as my chemist is just up the road and the staff know me, from when I used to get my works from there.
Today was different though the head pharmacist wasn't there. I'm sure that the meth is made there?
just todays tasted different. (only just drunk it about 20 mins

But its a busy little chemist and nobody thinks bad of you. Even the customers