How to Complain about a Pharmacist?

Savvy_Sue · 26 March 2008 at 11:27PM

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melancholly · 27 March 2008 at 12:37AM

i think this is awful - but the one redeeming feature is that he realised the mistake and then did everything he could be fix it, which is something. i know that doesn't help and it could have gone badly, but he did turn up and try and fix the situation (i guess if he hadn't noticed at all, i'd say kick up a huge fuss, but perhaps rein it in a touch - still complain but without fully going for the jugular if that makes sense?!)

moneysaving_pharmacist · 27 March 2008 at 2:49PM

Atomised wrote: »

I was refused medicine I have taken for 2 years because a pharmicst demanded a new prescription. I was angry at the time because it was the weekend and it is life saving medicine (in the long term) , luckily I used someome else's (same) medication.

Good luck with your complaint

Did the pharmacist say why they wanted a new prescription?

Mrs_pbradley936 · 27 March 2008 at 7:13PM

I think it is bad practice but at least they called round to rectify the situation as soon as they realised something was amiss. I never dwell on what could have been – just what did occur. You will drive yourself mad with what could have happened but it didn’t.

Bonaventure_babes · 27 March 2008 at 7:21PM

moneysaving_pharmacist wrote: »

I'm sorry to hear about what happened, and it sounds like the pharmacist involved didn't handle the situation too well. Pharmacists are only human and all pharmacists have made dispensing errors at some point in their life. We do what we can do reduce the risk, and hope that any errors we make are minor ones and not serious ones. One of the most common reasons for a complaint being made is not that an error has been made, but the way it has been dealt with by the pharmacist.

The pharmacy involved should have a written complaints procedure, and that would be the first place I would turn to. If this does not resolve the complaint then you could consider complaining to the Royal Pharmacuetical Society - details at http://www.rpsgb.org/protectingthepublic/complaints/
If complaining to RPSGB I would probably copy in the PCT as well.

Id like to agree with this...we all are only human.

If i was you i would just make a point of checking what is written on the script before you hand it over to minimise the risk of this happening again.

I don't think i would be complaining as the next pharmacist you get may not be as keen to hold up their hands and admit they had made a mistake.

Sugar_Coated_Owl · 27 March 2008 at 8:09PM

Unfortunately dispensing errors do occur from time to time. The pharmacist obviously realised later on that he had made an error and acted accordingly to try and minimise any risk to the patient. Perhaps the pharmacist could have dealt with the matter a little better though. I'm sure the dispensing error would have been reported.

lolly5648 · 28 March 2008 at 12:17PM

I have had this happen twice to me with two different pharmacists. However I always check the box and read the instructions, especially if it is a new prescription or the packaging has changed. It is a fact of life that people make mistakes, including pharmacists and doctors.

How to Complain about a Pharmacist?

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