Indiscreet pharmacist!

firesidemaid

Torry_Quine wrote: »

That's your choice though and very different from your confidentiality being broken.

no, that IS breaching confidentiality.

ellay864

At several pharmacies I won't use anymore it's not the pharmacists that are the problem but the assistants behind the counter. Some of them seem to think that having a white coat to wear gives them some kind of qualification that enables them to talk so patronisingly and let the whole shop know what you're being given. I've heard so much incorrect advice given and on more than one occasion I've stepped in and pointed out that they're wrong and suggest they get the pharmacist to give correct advice. I work in the drugs industry, but not a pharmacy and never have done, but it scares me how I can know a lot more about some of the medicines than people who are advising sick and elderly people on what to take

giraffe69

As a practising pharmacist its our job to ask questions, just to double check the medication is appropriate for the condition.

So if a doctor fills out a prescription then a pharmacist has the right to check whether they believe it is suitable without, of course, knowing anything of the patient's history. Where do they get this delusional self-importance from?

chewynut

I remember one time my (former) friend went into a chemist to buy some condoms and the assistant humiliated her by asking her very loudly what she wanted them for, and waving the packet around for all to see. She was obviously underaged at the time but that was no excuse to treat her like that. Especially when she's the kind of idiot who would rather go without than risk being embarrassed again.

Torry_Quine

firesidemaid wrote: »

no, that IS breaching confidentiality.

I mean talking about it to friends is your choice. Obviously the receptionist talking about it is breaching confidentialiy

MamaMoo_2

I got berated by the receptionist at my GP today.
I sent my hubby to the surgery last Wednesday to pick up a prescription and have it dispensed. When he got home, it was all wrong.
Went to the GP's today and politely explained to the receptionist the issues (wrong insulin prescribed, wrong lancets prescribed, not enough test strips)
Immediately, she was demanding to know why I hadn't come over sooner. (they were closed Thursday afternoon, and hubby was working Thursday morning, Friday and today, and due to being heavily pregnant, I can't get my son's pram down the stairs outside on my own, so I'm effectively housebound without hubby)
Then she demanded to know (very impolitely, & very loudly in front of a surgery full of very nosey people) who had told me the prescription was wrong.
I explained that I had ascertained that it was wrong as I knew what I needed, and I hadn't got it.
She then got very arrogant, and started waffling about my midwife and how I hadn't seen her (all my antenatal care happens at the hospital, the GP should know this.)
At this point I said "all of this is irrelevant, can you please get the doctor to fill my prescription correctly?"
She told me to sit down and proceeded to phone the GP and tell him that "Mrs. X is here and she says you can't write a prescription"
Sat there for 15 minutes with everyone staring at me. Really pi**ed me off.

gary44

giraffe69 wrote: »

So if a doctor fills out a prescription then a pharmacist has the right to check whether they believe it is suitable without, of course, knowing anything of the patient's history. Where do they get this delusional self-importance from?

It's not self importance, its an extra safeguard. There are numerous drugs that have different doses for different conditions.

I had a script the other day where the GP had written take 7 every day. they pressed the wrong button when typing, signed the prescription and sent the patient on their way. now had i not questioned the patient on why they were taking the tablets and what the GP had told them they would have taken 7 every day and not 1 which it should have been. taking 7 would have caused serious harm. the GP was very grateful when we informed him

zaksmum

gary44 wrote: »

It's not self importance, its an extra safeguard. There are numerous drugs that have different doses for different conditions.

I had a script the other day where the GP had written take 7 every day. they pressed the wrong button when typing, signed the prescription and sent the patient on their way. now had i not questioned the patient on why they were taking the tablets and what the GP had told them they would have taken 7 every day and not 1 which it should have been. taking 7 would have caused serious harm. the GP was very grateful when we informed him

I do realise that pharmacists can be vital when double checking prescriptions that a GP may have made a mistake on. But I've had my painkillers for a long time now and my records have all the details for the pharmacist to check quietly if she had any concerns.

I'm friendly with one of the dispensers at this particular chemist who thinks it's fine to tell me what medication various neighbours are on!

I would go elsewhere if there was another pharmacy nearby.

I'm going to write to Head Office and ask if they consider it acceptable to have private details of customers bellowed across a packed shop.

ShaneUK

giraffe69 wrote: »

So if a doctor fills out a prescription then a pharmacist has the right to check whether they believe it is suitable without, of course, knowing anything of the patient's history. Where do they get this delusional self-importance from?

To protect everyone involved - the doctor, the pharmacist and the patient.

Doctors are human, humans make mistakes. One example could be the wrong drug being used for a particular condition, or the wrong dosage (perhaps 1000mg prescribed or something rather than 100mg). Or of course, malpractice which has been in the news a few times over the years.

Pharmacists don't spend years studying for no reason at all.

I totally agree with pharmacists asking questions surrounding the medication that has been prescribed by a GP - of course though, it should be done with confidentiality in mind.

Errata

Patient safety is a vital part of the NHS, and safety covers confidentiality and dignity - both of which were breached by the OP's pharmacy.
A formal complaint to both the pharmacy and the op's GP practice would not go amiss.