"Terribly inefficient with prescriptions "

It’s now the 11th day of waiting for my repeat prescription to be processed. Unfortunately something is very wrong with St Clement’s systems as it is seemingly impossible to get a suitable prescription in place. Problems are multitude - first, apparently there was a delay between me requesting my repeat on the app and them receiving it. I was told by reception that this can happen. Acceptable? Maybe it would be if the prescription was then processed swiftly but instead it went to my gp who eventually approved it, just within their 5 day timeframe. But the brand of hrt they are specifying in my script is no longer available in pharmacies. Not ideal they didn’t know this(!) but maybe it would be acceptable if it was the rectified to an available brand or a generic. Instead, I have been stuck in a purgatory of having to call each day, sometimes multiple times, to see if my doctor or a Duty doctor has made processed the new prescription. At this point, day 11 since my first repeat prescription request, it’s still not done. As a result, I have not taken the medication for nearly a week. This break has meant my cycle is completely disrupted and it will unfortunately take several weeks or even potentially months so get back to a proper cycle on the medication. Very frustrating. No one on reception at St Clement’s has been rude. They’re friendly although often rushed. At times I feel they’ve been helpful but I’m not sure what the problem is. Is it processes? Systems? Staffing of GPs? Or just a complete lack of care as to the impact of inefficiencies on their patients?

For these reasons I would recommend anyone to think twice before enrolling at St Clement’s Partnership as you really don’t want to have to go through what I’m going through to get a simple prescription.

Also, having called around ten times last week I suggest they change there automated answer phone message as it tells their patients to only phone the surgery if it is for an emergency appointment or if you have no access to the internet. This feels overly obstructive and also is patently untrue - patients will also need to call from time to time, such as in situations like mine.