Hampton Medical Centre 2015-08-29 Person 2 5 0

On Saturday (22nd) I visited the practice at 09:05 to collect my repeat prescription. There was a lady in front of me and she was checked in. This left just myself with no one else behind me or phones ringing etc; I said to the receptionist that I was there to collect my repeat prescription. I was disappointed when they told me that they do not issue them on a Saturday and that I would have to visit Monday - Friday. I would understand if the receptionist was rushed off their feet with patients coming and going and phones ringing, but this was not the case, there was only me there. When asked why they couldn't issue the prescription they said that the practice was open on extended hours on Saturday. I explained that I work longer hours than the surgery and the receptionist made several suggestions such as, send in a S.A.E. or let the chemist collect my prescription. I did not know about these alternative methods and after looking at them I would prefer to collect my prescription from the surgery. I only wanted them to open the drawer and issue the prescription. I was then asked how I had managed to collect previous prescriptions. I told the receptionist that I collected them on my day off, which is usually a week day. My next week day off is not until the 8th September. Unfortunately I don't have family of friends in the area that can collect for me. In my mind this not not very good customer service. It also means that I will have to make another journey which could have been avoided. How does the receptionist know how important a particular prescription is to a patient? I was given a leaflet about the surgery's hours and services etc; After this two minute conversation I left empty handed and very disappointed. Why can't they issue a prescription on a Saturday, particularly if they are not dealing with lots of patients and constant phones ringing? I am a single working professional man. If someone makes what I call an "unusual" request I always try to accommodate. Surely common sense should prevail in a case like this?