Madness in the NHS

We all know we have to save money to run the NHS for everyone who can't afford private health insurance.  Basically that's everyone who isn't in the 'stinking rich and running the country' bracket. We all know that, and we all agree that everyone should have access to free health care. 

In my experience I would say that NHS staff are mostly very hard working people, doing their best in difficult circumstances. It is the system they are working in that causes problems and inefficiencies.

My husband recently had to visit his doctor with some rather worrying looking marks on the backs of his hands.  His doctor couldn't say what they were, so referred him to our local hospital to see a specialist.  So far, so familiar.

When the specialist examined the marks on the back of his hands she said they needed treatment with a certain kind of cream, and started writing out a note.  "Is that my prescription?" he asked her.  At this point she raised her eyes and gave him the sort of look that a weary professional who has to follow rules that don't make any sense gives.  "No" she said "this is a request for a prescription, you have to take this to your doctor so they can write out the prescription." 

Now, this person is more highly qualified than our local GP in the condition that my husband has. She has studied at medical school for as many if not more years than our local GP.  She has, until recently been able to issue prescriptions to the patients that she sees so that they can get the medicines that they need and start the treatment to make them well again immediately.  Not now gently reader!

Now, because the funding system has been arranged this way, it means that it makes better economical sense for the prescription to be provided by the GP.  The GP then gets some of the NHS money to provide the prescription and the medicines and the hospital doesn't have to carry such a wide variety of drugs. It's better for the 'system' and the bureaucrats running it, but not the patient.

In this modern, digital age surely the specialist could tick a couple of boxes and 'credit' the sugery my husband is registered with the money that they currently claim by making the patient perform the service of courier with his own prescription?

My husband who is still a fit and able person fortunately, now has to find the time to drive to the doctor's surgery to hand in the request for a prescription.  Because it is a request and not a prescription he then has to wait 2/3 days for his GP to write the requested prescription.  He has to drive back to the surgery once this is ready and either get the precription filled in the surgery or at a nearby pharmacy if the surgery is out of stock.

Can someone please explain how this is an improvement for the patient? I can understand that accountants may find it a lot simpler, and that it makes their work so much easier but I didn't think that was the point of the NHS.  I always thought the it was the job of the NHS to make sick people well again as quickly and efficiently as possible.  Or did I get that wrong?