Dozens of patients complain of hold-ups

PATIENTS at Royal Derby Hospital and its accompanying hospital pharmacy have offered their views, with one person saying they waited a total of 18 hours to pick up medication.

One internet user under the name Justthetruthbeau1 said: “It’s the normal. Welcome to what really goes on. Bit of an eye-opener for some I know, but it is normal.”

The Villager agreed, stating: “Five hours of waiting...No excuses. Maybe if they are that behind, give patients a prescription so they can go home and not stand risking their health in this way.”

Another, called Spondonian, commented: “More patients, outdated facilities and less staff equals long queues. A change in the way the pharmacy is managed may help, but that means money from somewhere.

“All parts of the NHS are under great stress all the time and demand gets higher as resources get lower. Non-vital prescriptions should be given to patients so they can access their local pharmacy and the hospital service used by inpatients and very urgently requested medication.

“Perhaps the interim executive medical director could divert some of his vast army of staff in suits to the task of doing something worthwhile instead of paper file shuffling.”

Facebook user Suzanne Catten wrote: “Not surprising when people are being sent there for what their GP should be doing!”

Jane Currin wrote: “Please don’t blame the pharmacy. Meds have to be written up properly before the pharmacy can dispense them. They are dealing with everyone in the hospital, not just you. Once they have been dispensed they have to be checked before they can be handed out. High-priority cases are looked at first.”