"The pain of trying to get some medication"

I need a repeat prescription every few months from my local surgery. And i have to send in a written request which takes them forever to process. And when they do it always seem to disappear enroute to the pharmacy.

I have previously wasted a few trips to the pharmacy only for them to stare blankly at me and by that time the surgery has closed. Now, i first call the surgery two days after i drop my request to make sure they have collected my request and made out the prescription, then i call the pharmacy to make sure they have collected it and have my medication waiting for me to collect it.

Sounds idiot proof doesn't it? Unfortunately it is not uncommon to find that neither of them have the prescription and blame each other. I always have to call both parties several more times to confirm that the prescription is finally at the pharmacy. I just hope it is still there when i arrive.