Going Nowhere at a Gallop

What a frustrating week this has been! As at the beginning of the year our medical has been upgraded from a hospital plan to a full medical aid. When the upgrade was done, at the end of November, in the booklet was a part informing me that chronic medication needed to be registered with the medical aid if we wanted the facility and that only their medical service provider was allowed. There was no part on the form to put this down so with the application I sent a covering letter detailing all Hubby’s medication and duly got a reply – although only late December- that we had been upgraded. Last weekend, as Hubby’s medication was almost finished I told him he needed to get a new prescription ready to go to the new chemist. Monday morning he was in an otherwise mood and stomped off to work so I didn’t get a chance to remind him. By the time he came home he was in a better mood so I reminded him about it. Tuesday morning he got an appointment at the Dr to get a renewal and I phoned the Medical Aid to find out where their chemist was. I was annoyed to be told that sending Hubby’s prescription was the only way to get registered. Hallo! Why couldn’t they have let me know when they received my letter with his medication details? Worse still, was been informed that it was not a chemist they were affiliated to but a medication supplier and I was given the number for them. I got the fax number so that the Dr could send Hubby’s prescription straight to them to avoid any delays. After giving Hubby the number I phoned the medication supplier and was told to fax them the prescription and as soon as they had received it they would get authorisation from the medical aid. Dispatch time was 48hrs after this. Not good as Hubby would be out of medicine by then. There was nothing I could do but accept this and hope for the best. Anyway Hubby’s Dr couldn’t fax the prescription as the line was constantly busy so Hubby came home and I sent both faxes off from the computer – getting the reply that they had been received. Hubby finished his medication Wednesday and Thursday afternoon I phoned to see what time the stuff would be delivered to him. I was furious to be informed that Hubby wasn’t even registered on their system yet and the lady quickly put the details up while talking to me and said she would go and see what was happening with the delivery. The person I had spoken to on Tuesday phoned me back to say she had never received the fax and asked what number I had used to send it. She checked and came back saying she couldn’t find it. I asked her why she hadn’t registered Hubby’s details when I had spoken to her on Tuesday and was informed ‘I only take messages and pass them on’ By now my blood was boiling and I told her Hubby had no medicine left and he needed his stuff urgently. I was promised a speedy response and sent the prescription to her email. Friday I phoned her and asked when the delivery was happening and was informed despatch needed a day to get it ready before delivery and it would be delivered early Monday. Poor Hubby! By now the effect of no blood pressure medication was making itself felt. Monday lunchtime I phoned to see what time we could expect delivery. I was informed that the medication had only been sent across to deliveries that morning as there were no fridge facilities for the insulin and we would get the medication Tuesday morning. Did they suddenly get a fridge to keep it in for Monday night? This morning I received an sms telling me the stuff is in the delivery van and we should get it overnight. After complaining again I was put through to logistics who said they would contact the driver and tell him the delivery was urgent. I really can’t believe this and wonder what the medical aid was thinking when they came up with this wonderful way of dealing with medication needs. Logistics said they would come back to me as soon as they had spoken to the driver to tell me when to expect the delivery. That was half an hour ago and I am still waiting. TYPICAL!!! I just love the service delivery we are subjected to these days.
The rest of my time as been spent in the normal pursuits of cleaning and office work and my MUCH needed chill glass of wine in the evening and coffee every morning. What would I do without these survival aids?
Saturday Diane and I went to a client of her to pick up an item we had ordered and get some products for her to take pics of. We spent the afternoon there having a good catch-up chat over coffee. It was just after six when we finally left. Diane and I were just turning in to the road between Walkerville and Randvaal when the car cut out. Luckily it is a downhill and we coasted until the car came to a stop around the corner from the Walkerville road. I phoned Hubby and while we waited sat nervously with Taisers in hand. Hubby arrived and attached a tow rope between the cars. The one Major hang-up I have is being towed. I shake badly and expect to hit the back of the car towing me. Most of the way was downhill so this tow was even worse than usual. As we turned the corner into our road I shouted for Hubby to stop and asked him to take the rope off and let me coast down to the gate. He just laughed at me and continued towing me. Very inconsiderate! When we got home I had my VERY NECESSARY glass of wine to recover from the ordeal. Diane was just as bad as she also expected me to hit him and couldn’t even watch the road ahead. Sunday we spent the day chilling after the stressful week. Hubby towed the car in to the workshop this morning and I hope it is not too major a problem.
That’s it for now. Hope I have a better week.