The Five Myths of Online Pharmacy – Busted!
There are many reasons to use an online pharmacy, but sometimes people have concerns about using the internet to order their medicines. In this blog, we’ll dispel some of the common misunderstandings about using an online pharmacy.
The benefits of using an online pharmacy include:
- Convenience: You can order your medication online at any time, wherever you are.
- Speed: It only takes a minute or two to order your medicines
- It’s easy: You order online (or by phone or email) and the pharmacy posts your medicines to you, so you don’t have to leave the house.
However, we know that many people have questions about using an online pharmacy for the first time. Let us put your mind at rest by busting the common myths:
1. I’m not sure how an online pharmacy works with my doctor’s surgery
The computer systems at online pharmacies, like community pharmacies, are set up to receive prescriptions electronically from your GP so that any pharmacy can dispense your prescription medicines. All you have to do is nominate which pharmacy you’d prefer to use.
At Spirit Pharmacy, we work with more than 9,300 GP practices in England. That means that once we are your nominated pharmacy, your doctor will send us your prescriptions. We’ll dispense your NHS prescriptions, post them to you free of charge and keep you updated with the progress of your order too. You can find out more here or give us a call on 0116 464 5558.
2. It’s difficult to start using an online pharmacy
Many people are surprised to find how easy it is to start using an online pharmacy. It takes under 5 minutes to complete the online form (click on the link at the top of the page).
We’ll then take over and ask your doctor for your prescription details and remind you when it’s time to order your medicines. That’s all there is to it!
3. I can’t talk to a real person
Ordering your medicines online is fast, easy and convenient. But, sometimes you can’t beat talking with a real person, especially if your prescription has changed or you want to ask a pharmacist questions about your medicines, such as their side effects or taking several medicines at the same time. At Spirit Pharmacy, you have the best of both worlds. You can order online, and you can also phone our friendly pharmacists for advice and information. They’re available during our opening hours to talk to you, answer your questions and put your mind at ease. You can call our pharmacists on 0116 464 5558.
4. It will take too long to get my medicines
Many people think they’ll have to wait much longer to get their medicines from an online pharmacy, but that’s not true. At Spirit Pharmacy, we’ll remind you when to order your medication, so there is plenty of time to:
- ask your GP to authorise your prescription and send it to us electronically
- dispense your medication safely
- post your medicines and for you to take delivery of it
At Spirit Pharmacy, we start to process your prescriptions as soon as you order them (which you can do online, on the phone or by email). We aim to dispense and dispatch your medication on the same day we receive authorisation from your GP.
5. My medicines might get lost in the post
Spirit Pharmacy uses secure, 24 and 48-hour delivery services. You can choose the delivery address for your medicines too, and lots of people prefer the convenience of having their medications delivered to their place of work (which is why we always use plain and discreet packaging). You can also let us know if you prefer to have your medicines delivered on a particular day in the week, and if you aren’t at home when we deliver, you can arrange re-delivery using the missed delivery card.
If you have medicines that you keep in a fridge, such as insulin, we’ve got that covered too. We use special multi-award-winning insulated packaging that exceeds guidelines for refrigerated pharmaceutical products, so your medication is safe in the post. The packaging uses sustainable, compostable, recyclable or recycled materials.
About Spirit Pharmacy
Spirit Pharmacy is a friendly distance-selling pharmacy with a particular interest in diabetes. We provide the same dispensing services and advice you would expect from your local community pharmacy, or dispensing doctor, with the convenience of secure repeat prescription ordering and fast, free delivery.
We process prescriptions for all patients. If you pay for your prescriptions, we will call you before we dispense them to take payment. If you are exempt from prescription charges, you can add your exemption details via our website or you can give us a call.
We love providing pharmacy services for everyone, but especially people living with diabetes. We offer free reviews of your prescriptions and access to free online diabetes education.
Click here to register, and we’ll make it easy for you to manage your repeat prescriptions. If you have any questions, please call us on 0116 464 5558.
