HWL - Escalation Paper - Changes to patient repeat prescriptions
Why is Healthwatch Lincolnshire bringing this to your attention?
The action from 1 February 2018 by South and South West Lincolnshire CCGs for patients who have previously used a community pharmacy to order repeat medicines but are now required to order repeat prescriptions directly from their GP practice, appears to be causing a great deal of concerns to patients and carers.
Whilst we recognise the National and local directive to reduce the overall cost of prescribed medication and its subsequent wastage, Healthwatch Lincolnshire does not believe patients fully understand the options available to them, nor the reasons why the CCG has made the change.
Example of the type of concerns raised include:
- A carer who is looking after a loved one who has cancer living in the Long Sutton area of Lincolnshire, was very concerned as they did not know how they were now expected to deal with collecting repeat medication for their cared for as their surgery did not have a phone-in option for repeat prescriptions and they personally did not drive, so was having real difficulties arranging repeat prescriptions. Healthwatch on this occasion suggested the carer phoned the surgery to explain the problem as we felt once the surgery was aware they would put in place support needed.
- A patient told us “The Lloyds pharmacy in Spalding have advised that they can no longer order my prescription for me. In future I will have to take the prescription to my surgery or order online. This is inconvenient for people without transport or access to a computer. I've been told that it affects Lincolnshire and would be interested to know the reason for this change. I am not making a complaint against Lloyds in Spalding. They have always been helpful and obliging”.
Downloads
To read further examples of patient concerns and questions raised by HWL to South and South West CCG's please click below
