Questioned by the Pharmacist

EdInvestor

The government has targets for MUR's and the pharmacy chains have to meet them so you will hear of more and more people having them.

Perhaps someone could train the pharmacists to treat the subjects of the review as something other than "targets" -that is participants in a process which is supposed to be "for their own good."

Presribed drugs cost the NHS an absolute fortune and I know from my own elderly rellies that significant amounts are stored - just in case - and often end up being disposed of which is a total waste

Of course this is not the same thing as the patient's own good.

tango

It is nothing to do with age..MUR'S are yet another 'pile of paperwork' that can be helpful,but can be just another 'job for the boys'..
The pharmacy doesn't have much say in the matter..
People with more than three months PMR are chosen regardless of age .sex etc..its just a chance to talk about any concerns

kenshaz

tango wrote:

It is nothing to do with age..MUR'S are yet another 'pile of paperwork' that can be helpful,but can be just another 'job for the boys'..
The pharmacy doesn't have much say in the matter..
People with more than three months PMR are chosen regardless of age .sex etc..its just a chance to talk about any concerns

Good to hear and I am sure that you are correct,the answer always appears in the end.

kenshaz

ariba10 wrote:

I am nearer eighty than seventy and when I picked up a prescription today from a different chemist (To me they are still chemists although they like to call themselves Pharmacists ) the young lady explained it to me as if I was senile.

But I belive it was with my well being in mind. So I did not mind.

My point exactly which is why I posted,and you are an example of how some can have preconceived misconceptions,but I was wrong ,perhaps the reason should have been explained to my Mum,because she has more comprehension than most,but unlike you she is not computer literate.

studentloan

Thats very cynical. I would have thought a measure to make the NHS more efficient so we have more money for other public services and taxes are lower.
MURs are already proven to work btw

Pharmacists ar generally taught to speak clearly, slowly and only to use 'scientific jargon' if the patient shows knowledge of it. That applies equally to patients

I sent a link earlier in the thread for an NHS guide to MURs please read it if you want to know more.

If anyone wants to keep tabs on the lastest initiatives by government then visit https://www.gov.uk

kenshaz

studentloan wrote:

Thats very cynical. I would have thought a measure to make the NHS more efficient so we have more money for other public services and taxes are lower.
MURs are already proven to work btw

Pharmacists ar generally taught to speak clearly, slowly and only to use 'scientific jargon' if the patient shows knowledge of it. That applies equally to patients

I sent a link earlier in the thread for an NHS guide to MURs please read it if you want to know more.

If anyone wants to keep tabs on the lastest initiatives by government then visit www.gov.uk

I believe that each person should be spoken to as an individual,I personally do not like to spoken to in a slow clear and précis manner ,rather patronizing,I dislike in-house jargon ,but long scientific words are fine.

Jake'sGran

rjm2k1 wrote:

Long term use could be what they were double checking, they may feel that a Dr is simply signing a repeat prescription without thinking too much about it and decided to make sure it was either still working, or still neccessary. I know someone who had been prescribed warfarin for something like 20 years, had a heart attack and his specialist said there was no way he should have been on it for so long and took him off it immediatly!

This sounds strange. I take Warfarin and will do for the rest of my life. I research all my meds. Warfarin is generally used to prevent strokes in circumstances where a patient is more at risk of having one, e.g. someone with arrythmia or prosthetic heart valve (I have both). When I first read the original post I assumed that the pharmacists was being cautious and perhaps did not like the combination of drugs. I would be quite impressed if they queried something with me and I could answer all their questions but most of my friends have not got a clue about medications and just take whatever the doctor prescribes, or not, which I understand is the case with many people.
I don't believe the lady's age had anything at all to do with it.

Just noticed Kenshaz said "they are all chemists to me". Not true, pharmacists have different training entirely and are very knowledgeable. I used to work in the chemical industry with chemists whose work was of a different nature.

margaretclare

Jake'sGran wrote:

This sounds strange. I take Warfarin and will do for the rest of my life. I research all my meds. Warfarin is generally used to prevent strokes in circumstances where a patient is more at risk of having one, e.g. someone with arrythmia or prosthetic heart valve (I have both). When I first read the original post I assumed that the pharmacists was being cautious and perhaps did not like the combination of drugs. I would be quite impressed if they queried something with me and I could answer all their questions but most of my friends have not got a clue about medications and just take whatever the doctor prescribes, or not, which I understand is the case with many people.
I don't believe the lady's age had anything at all to do with it.

You're very like DH and me. As a former engineer he 'has to know how things work', and that includes taking medications of any kind. When he was diagnosed Type 2 diabetes 25 years ago he made it his business to find out as much as he could about the condition, how it would affect him and hoe he could maximise control.

Our pharmacist queried something not very long ago - he didn't take him into a private room, but said very quietly 'are you aware that your prescription has been altered?' DH said 'Yes I am, it was altered at my request'. 'Oh that's fine then, I just wanted to be sure that you knew'.

Just noticed Kenshaz said "they are all chemists to me". Not true, pharmacists have different training entirely and are very knowledgeable. I used to work in the chemical industry with chemists whose work was of a different nature.

Yes, I tend to think of 'industrial chemists' if anyone says 'chemist'. But then, I'm used to working in hospital and we never referred to the pharmacists as 'chemists' there. A misnomer.

Margaret

kenshaz

Jake'sGran wrote:

This sounds strange. I take Warfarin and will do for the rest of my life. I research all my meds. Warfarin is generally used to prevent strokes in circumstances where a patient is more at risk of having one, e.g. someone with arrythmia or prosthetic heart valve (I have both). When I first read the original post I assumed that the pharmacists was being cautious and perhaps did not like the combination of drugs. I would be quite impressed if they queried something with me and I could answer all their questions but most of my friends have not got a clue about medications and just take whatever the doctor prescribes, or not, which I understand is the case with many people.
I don't believe the lady's age had anything at all to do with it.

Just noticed Kenshaz said "they are all chemists to me". Not true, pharmacists have different training entirely and are very knowledgeable. I used to work in the chemical industry with chemists whose work was of a different nature.

Sorry to correct you,but I never mentioned chemists ,you have read another post and attributed it to me.refer you to Ariba10 they mentioned chemists.

kenshaz

margaretclare wrote:

You're very like DH and me. As a former engineer he 'has to know how things work', and that includes taking medications of any kind. When he was diagnosed Type 2 diabetes 25 years ago he made it his business to find out as much as he could about the condition, how it would affect him and hoe he could maximise control.

Our pharmacist queried something not very long ago - he didn't take him into a private room, but said very quietly 'are you aware that your prescription has been altered?' DH said 'Yes I am, it was altered at my request'. 'Oh that's fine then, I just wanted to be sure that you knew'.



Yes, I tend to think of 'industrial chemists' if anyone says 'chemist'. But then, I'm used to working in hospital and we never referred to the pharmacists as 'chemists' there. A misnomer.

Margaret

Once again ,sorry to correct ,but I do not like being misquoted ,it was Ariba10 who mentioned chemists,please read previous post by them .