rspltd

Even better than that - our GP uses an online pharmacy so if he prescribes something, the medicines arrive in the post a day later. Repeat prescriptions are authorised by the GP and then sent out a few days before being required. Had an appointment before Christmas, was advised to get an X Ray, Appointment was waiting when I got home. X Rays taken on the 28th. Results given on the 29th.

Dick Dasterdly

I get called in at regular intervals for blood tests to check that the dosage level is still correct, so I very much doubt that a full years supply would be such a good idea, though they have occasionally stretched it to two months or a little more by request when everything appeared to be ok.

snikpoh

If you grab the link that it says is broken (swipe it with a mouse and then copy - ctrl c), and then use this link as a favourite, all will work fine in any browser. If one isn't shown - try This link

I had the same problem in Chrome but now use the other link.

lynnxa

thanks

mikelincs

Several options in the UK, we can just drop a repeat prescription form into a box at the health centre, then go back a couple of days later to pick up the prescription from reception, or we can leave the repeat prescription form at a pharmacy, and they will put in the request, collect the prescription and all we need to do is to go along to the pharmacy and collect the drugs.

agoreira

That's how it works with us, but it's done via the internet, no dropping off prescriptions. Just amble down to the chemist where it'll be waiting for you. Or they'll deliver if you have problems getting there. Just had my regular diabetes checks, including the eye screening, overall I'm happy with the NHS in our area, it's all free and it works fairly well. Nothing's ever perfect, but there's a lot worse systems. If I were skint and ill, I can't think of many better health services. Lots of charges creeping into the Spanish system, lots of expensive drugs not on the free list, paying for crutches, wheelchairs, ambulances if not emergency, the copago etc. I see Madrid and Cataluña have introduce a €1 per receta charge, I bet the rest will follow. None of it is a big deal for rich expats but for the Spanish it's a different story.

steviedeluxe

It must be that famous health lottery popping up again. My partner has to go to the local practise and queue for ages behind people wanting a doctors' appointment, when she needs a repeat prescription.
As for costs, I know this must vary for each medicine, but when I was in Spain a few weeks back I was begged by family members to get certain medicines, as they were both better and a lot cheaper than the uk equivalents. Let's hope the costs don't rise too much.

Dick Dasterdly

It doesn't matter much how much they cost if you can't get hold of them.

Lots of horror stories in the Valencian region with people being told to come back to the pharmacy and try again next week.
Also limited opening hours.
I have recently been turned down on a couple of items that were easily available a year or two back.

Hard to say what the future holds here, but I would consider the UK health service and pharmacies to be a much safer bet in the forthcoming years.

agoreira

Great system in Spain, as you say, especially in Valencia. Drug companies haven't been paid, farmacias haven't been paid, (owed €450 million) pharmacists have been on strike in an effort to get paid. Yes, it's working well.

steviedeluxe

Seemed to work ok a few weeks back for me. I was asked to get some medicines by family members in Spain as they were far cheaper, and according to them more effective treatments. The pharmacy I used (in Madrid) seemed to be functioning as normal. Let's hope that any problems in Valencia get resolved (I'm sure posters here who are based there can inform us if in fact they can't get their meds in Valencia)

whitelinen

You dont and have never lived in Spain so please stop spreading lies.

There has been no obvious shortages in the pharmacies I use in Valencia other than I had to wait 24 hours for one item..

I too buy several different drugs to take to friends and rellies in the UK because they are either cheaper, actually available and are the real thing and not some dirt cheap generic.

agoreira

I'm not really the least bit interested in you or where you buy your drugs, but you're sadly misinformed if you think it's not going on. Or perhaps you simply prefer the head in the sand approach. If I want a sanitised, airbrushed version of Spain I'll come to you, if I want to know what the real situation is I'll get it from the Spanish themselves.

Fred James

So, just out of interest, is the comment that you don't and never have lived in Spain correct?

jackytoo

what's your point. I thought he made it clear he has never lived in Spain Stevie who raised this has never lived there since he joined this forum about 5 years ago. Agoreira certainly knows a lot more of what is happening there than some who have lived there for years...fluency helps

spainrico

lynnxa

Yes you are right (I have just encountered the problem on the INSS site)

I thought there used to be a way of carrying on to access the page with Firefox (running V 17.0.1) but that seems to have gone so now the only solution is too use IE.