Brilliant doctors, very poor receptionist
I am an insulin dependent diabetic. I need to measure my blood glucose levels on a regular basis. 2 days ago I found out I am short of cassettes necessary for blood sugar measuring (my mistake). I urgently ordered some on line from the surgery (repeated prescription) and rushed to the nextdoor pharmacy in the morning to ask for help as normally it takes several day to have such things sorted. They promised to help me, ordered tha cassetes urgently, and instructed me to come later. My wife came later to collect for me but surprisingly was told that the cassettes are ready but they have not received signed off prescription from the surgery yet. My wife then went to the surgery where receptionist told her - sorry, I sent the request (electronically) by mistake to a doctor who is on annual leave, bad luck, I cannot help you know, but I’ll try to speak to another doctor in the evening so mybe tomorrow. She knew I was in trouble, she knew she made a mistake and she knew she could have asked any of the GPs around to do a knew prescription now. It takes 5 minutes maximum (I am a doctor myself) and I am certain none of the GPs would refuse. Instead my wife was send away (try tomorrow). She knew I was in trouble so went back to the pharmacy begging for help. Fortunately they have a spare cassette ( my four ones still wating on the shell) and sell this one to us (I am entitled for this for free) for £23. No later refund possible she was told.
So I have now at least one cassette, hopefully the others in the relatively near future. But this incompetence and lack of interest in patiens in trouble is not good. At least not for me.