Chemist confidentiality

pinkfluffythings

Hi everyone,

Hope someone can shed some light on this for me. Is a Pharmacist allowed to speak to anyone else (family member/friend) about medication that a person takes, without the patient giving consent?

OH called into our local chemist for me to lift some antibiotics and mouthwash. She didn't ask him who he was but he presumes she knew he was my OH although he has only collected stuff twice for me in 3 years. She asked him was I still taking one of my various medications, did I know that the dose would need to be lowered.
He didn't have a clue as I do take a LOT of tablets so she asked him to ask me to call her. Will call tomorrow as they were closed by time he got home.
I've just been to my specialist and he is wanting the dose upped for me soon.

Is she allowed to talk to someone else about my tablets? They could have been something I maybe didn't want him to know about as to not worry him, also not do it in the middle of the shop, we live in a small village where everyone knows your name .. bit like cheers minus the beer lol
Just a bit miffed as I thought it would be the same as a Doctor with patient confidentiality



Thanks x

Person_one

It would be a bit daft to send someone to pick up your prescriptions if you didn't want them to be asked questions about other meds you're on etc.

I'm guessing that you have to give your permission (maybe sign something?) to allow somebody else to pick up your prescription?

Torry_Quine

I would think that by asking someone to pick up your prescription you are implicitly giving permission for the pharmacist to discuss any issue arising from it. Otherwise something important may not be passed on to the patient.

I do agree that in the middle of the shop is not appropriate.


Person One - no you don't have to sign anything, my husband picks mine up without any problem

marie-20

I generally pick up hubby's meds and have spoke to the chemist about them frequently especially when he's moved onto something new or moved back on to a tried and tested set that work but not well enough and it's 50/50 whether I've started the conversation or if they have.

Superbiatch

Your pharmacist has access to all your medication and any contraindications which might occur due to the medication supplied to you. It is in your best interest, if they didn't pick up on a possible complication of using certain drugs together I bet you'd be miffed or worse.

nikkiuk

Legally I'm not sure where things stands, but if it were me I would rather the pharmacist had made whoever picked up my prescription aware of any contraindications.
If she had given him the medication without making him aware and you ended up even more ill you would probably have something to complain about. In this instance, I think the pharmacist was just doing her job!

meritaten

tbh - I would be grateful that the chemist had pointed out there could be a conflict with other meds I was taking. If they didnt then they wouldnt be doing thier job!

Superbiatch

Torry_Quine wrote: »

Person One - no you don't have to sign anything, my husband picks mine up without any problem

You would normally sign the back of an FP10 if you are not the patient as the 'patients' representative' if i remember correctly?

Torry_Quine

Superbiatch wrote: »

You would normally sign the back of an FP10 if you are not the patient as the 'patients' representative' if i remember correctly?

I have usually already signed it myself before it's handed in which may be me or not. However it may be picked up on a seperate day with no signature needed.

pinkfluffythings

Thanks for the replies, the medication is an ongoing course, no contraindications with any other meds I take or antibiotics.

Just surprised me that they would discuss one of my treatments with someone else when they were collecting something very unrelated. Aw well, thank you all x

LilMissEmmylou

The pharmacist can not go home and talk about a patient picking up meds, nor would they discuss your meds with strangers. But yes... if you send somebody to pick up your medications and they know your name and address to pick it up for you... who else would we ask the needed questions to? i work in the pharmacy section of a well known high street chemist and many people cant come and pick up their medication and so send their family members or carers, we of course then have to ask that person questions or at times tell them information such as "can you make sure Mr X arranges to have a blood test with his GP/ goes for a check up" or whatever.

As for questions at the counter... well it would be a bit daft IMO to bring each person with a script pick up into a silent booth to make sure nobody hears what your saying to them. People are spoken to discreetly... its not like they get a megaphone out and shout the questions out