Tesco instore pharmacy...GRRR!!

zaksmum

I'm seriously hacked off with Tesco instore pharmacy right now.

I drove there today to get some eye drops for my husband who had woken up with an infection in one eye...sticky and a bit bloodshot, with greenish gunk coming out of the corner of the eye.

We were at our caravan in Anglesey and I'd left him there minding our grandsons who were with us there. As it's such a rural area the Tesco pharmacy is the only one for miles around, and even that was a 15 minute each way drive.

I asked for Optrex Infected Eye Drops as we've used them before whenever any of the family have had eye infections. The assistant got the male pharmacist who asked who it was for. I explained and he said "Where is he, then?" in a challenging tone. I told him, and he shrugged and said dismissively that he couldn't sell it to me without examining my husband's eyes. I said he couldn't come to the store as he was minding the grandchildren, and the eye drops are not prescription only, but over the counter sales.

He refused point blank to sell them to me and just started to serve the next person waiting. So I had to drive back to the caravan without the eye drops, and as it's Sunday the store closed early and we then couldn't get them at all.

Is it me, or is this totally ridiculous? Is the pharmacist acting within guidelines or just being a jobsworth? I felt like asking what he'd do if I needed cream to soothe infected piles...!!!:eek:

Claire_Bear

I've been asked routine questions before when buying stuff over the counter, but never been told I needed to be examined, surely a description of the symptoms would have been enough? I don't know what policy they have though, maybe you can only buy things for your own personal use?

acmc

He should have sold you them as not POM (bit of a jobsworth)

zaksmum

thanks claire bear and acmc. I don't mind the usual "Who is it for/have you used it before/are you on any other medication stuff...bit intrusive, especially in a local pharmacy where the neighbours could be listening in, but it's to be expected these days I suppose.

I just didn't think the pharmacist was even qualified to examine anyone's eyes, given that he's not an optician or doctor. And when requesting over the counter eye drops, it's a bit much to be treated with suspicion and almost hostility, then refused the purchase you're trying to make!

When the pharmacy is quite literally the only one open in a 20 mile radius, you don't have the option of nipping to the next nearest one, and it's not like I was trying to get my hands on a controlled drug or something.

That's how I was made to feel, though. I'm thinking of complaining to tesco, or at least asking for clarification that the pharmacist was authorised to act in such a manner towards a customer!

CookieMon

Actually, with the POM to P switch (ie, prescription-only to pharmacy-only) of Chloramphenicol eye drops, one of the pre-requisites of a sale is that the pharmacist needs to see the patient. The pharmacist was only following the correct guidelines, but I'm sorry that they didn't seem to be able to convey the information to you properly. Often eye complaints are misdiagnosed, and as such a visual confirmation of infection (before antibiotic eye drops are issued) is essential. Otherwise there is again the possibility of over-use of antibiotics in cases where it is not needed, and that is how resistant forms of infections can occur.

With all P-med medications, yes they are available "over the counter", but it is only at the discretion of the pharmacist. If we do not feel a medication is suitable for a patient then it is our discretion to refuse a sale.

Again, it seems the pharmacist could have been a little more descriptive and helpful in his refusal, but he was completely within his professional rights to do so I'm afraid.

funkymonkey

sounds like the pharmacist was a bit of a jobs worth to be honest, yes they have every right to refuse you BUT really it was only eye drops. im sure tat rule is there to stop people buying large amounts of pain killers etc. infact when i was 16 (and didnt look any older) i used to go and buy a box of 64 solpadine for my parents and no questions were ever asked!

the_rottweiler

About 3 years ago my son got a tummy bug, unfortunately we were in carlisle and due to come home to London that day.
I went to chemist for immodium and I was asked his age so i said he was 13 but 6ft 2 and 13 stone, the pharmacist refused to sell it to me because he was under 14.
So I asked for some for me just in case I caught the bug and she sold it to me. It was obvious that I was going to give it to my son

LinasPilibaitisisbatman

I bet if they sold the eye drops and your husband lost his sight you would be quick enough to sue.

Tesco have a duty of care.

CookieMon

Yes funkymonkey, but they were ANTIBIOTIC eye drops. Overuse of which can cause antibiotic resistant strains of infections. How do you think MRSA came about? Oh it's only a sore throat, shove some antibiotics at them. Oh wait, people aren't taking them properly and all it's doing is allowed bacteria to get used to the antibiotics and work out how to not be killed by them. Oops.

I'm not trying to derail the thread, or try to say that the OP's husband didn't have conjunctivitus, I'm just trying to help explain why the pharmacist might have refused the sale. Personally I try to use my professional discretion when it comes to issues like this, but the other pharmacist was still within his rights to refuse sale without a patient present.

CookieMon

Actually Wolu, with all P-meds, pharmacists should technically should be aware of all sales
within that pharmacy. They bear the responsibility if an item is sold incorrectly even if they weren't the ones to recommend it - hence the supervision.

"That person, or, if the transaction is carried out on his behalf by another person, then that person is, or acts under the supervision of, a pharmacist"

With regards the POM to P of Chloramphenicol, I have always been taught that visual confirmation of infection is essential before sale.

With Levonelle it is essential (to quote RPSGB guidelines)
"a) Pharmacists must deal with the request personally and decide whether to supply
the product or refer the patient to an appropriate healthcare professional."

chnelomi

Every part of life is being monitored now you cant get away from it.
We are left frightened to discipline our kids in case we smack them to hard and get jailed. If we don't have control on them and they don't go to school we can be jailed/fined. lovely eh.

You cant stock a medicine cabinet in one go in case you want to take to many. and lets face it if you were that desperate to do that you could easily walk/drive to different shops and get several packs.

And heaven forbid you have a cold and need some night time relief and ask for a bottle of night nurse. 20 questions and lots of chin rubbing later you leave bottle in hand completely bewildered. it was ages before i found out that drug takers drink an entire bottle for some sort of high or should that be down?