Prescription medication

Your experiences of getting prescription medication

People rely on prescription medication to treat and manage their conditions and keep well. Healthwatch England highlights the challenges people have recently reported when trying to get prescription medication.

In 2021/22, over a billion prescription items were dispensed in the community in England, up 2.58% on the previous year.

People rely on prescription medication to treat and manage their conditions and keep well. Yet, Healthwatch’s recent analysis of public feedback shows people are increasingly facing barriers to getting prescription medication.

Trends in feedback 

Analysis of public feedback given to Healthwatch across England suggests people have been facing serious issues when trying to get prescription medication:

  • Shortages of medication
  • Delays in getting repeat prescriptions issued
  • Shortages of staff
  • Closed pharmacies

Read the full article on the Healthwatch England website.

We’d like to hear more about what is happening in Northumberland. Please tell us if you have experienced difficulties with getting your prescription medication, or where services are working well for you and your family – give feedback.

2 replies
  1. Mr Derek Bennett
    Mr Derek Bennett says:

    I normally get a message from my chemist saying that my medication is ready for collection, beginning of September I didn’t get one, so went in and asked, – your due a health check, meaning I’d no medication for 5 days, went to the doctor’s got my medication next day, had my health check on the 13th September, went to collect my medication on the 26th September NONE, back to the doctor’s and asked why – because your seeing a doctor on the 5th October, so meaning no medication for 9 day’s, but I’ll send your prescription over now & it will be ready for collection this afternoon, Went to collect it 11:20am 27th Not Ready & not all in stock DOCTOR’S Dr K Finch Elsdon Ave Surgery Elsdon Ave Seaton Delaval Whitley bay NE25 0BW

  2. Claire Jackson
    Claire Jackson says:

    Thank you for your feedback; this helps us build a picture of what is happening in the county. We will pass on your feedback, anonymously, to those commissioning these services.

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