VENT - Sainsburys Pharmacy

meer53

I don't think the Pharmacy have done anything wrong here. They're carrying out the correct checks before selling an addictive drug.

Think how you'd feel if a family member was able to buy CC without any checks being carried out and something happened to them. You'd definately have grounds for complaint then. I agree that your Mums GP should be prescribing them if she needs them so badly.

Torry_Quine

meer53 wrote: »

I don't think the Pharmacy have done anything wrong here. They're carrying out the correct checks before selling an addictive drug.

Think how you'd feel if a family member was able to buy CC without any checks being carried out and something happened to them. You'd definately have grounds for complaint then. I agree that your Mums GP should be prescribing them if she needs them so badly.

I agree and don't know why the GP isn't prescribing them. It seems that it's the doctor that isn't looking after her correctly. The pharmacist is responsible for what is dispensed especially if there isn't a prescription.

VfM4meplse

bluenoseam wrote: »

Doctor > Pharmacist.

A very ignorant comment!

melbell wrote: »

A pharmacist is more qualified than a doctor.

No, just a different skillset. But the fact is the pharmacist is immediately disadvantaged by not having access to your mum's NHS record. Community pharmacy teams are used to repeated requests from patients for drugs that they are using inappropriately, codeine-based drugs being a case in point. The professional control is exerted by the pharmacist for a reason, and I think in this case it's an issue of trust. Certainly if there was a medicallly diagnosed condition there would be an expectation that your mum's GP would prescribe sufficient quantities. Btw over-use of codeine can cause a "hangover" headache so a break may be helpful for your mum.

honey10 wrote: »

That doesn't change the fact that they aren't medically qualified. Just because a drug won't interact with another drug that you are taking doesn't mean it will be suitable for you. A doctor would have a better idea, given that they can see your medical records.

An example would be, my nephew had earache. The pharmacist in the local chemist gave him some drugs without explaining what they were, just giving the 'take one three times a day' speech. it turned out they were antibiotics containing penicillin, which nearly killed him. A doctor wouldn't have prescribed them, so why should a pharmacist be able to?

I acknowledge that this may be a one-off, but I think illustrates the point I'm making.

Here you are mistaken. Penicillin is not available w/o a prescription in this country, it would be preferable that you checked your facts before you made wild accusations. (FWIW, I think your nephew was probably recommended ibuprofen).

LilMissEmmylou

Im another who says ask the GP to add it onto the scripts. TBH I get very cautious with selling cocodamol too often to one customer (and nytol! but thats another story) because a lot of people do get addicted. Yes your mum isn't one of those people and she is in genuine need but it is very hard to tell for the pharmacy assistant.

Vfm - thanks for the penicillin comment, I forgot to say there is no way a pharmacist would just hand this out

bananagirl85

My sister has kidney failure so i understand what you mean by the headaches, however her consultant prescribes her co codermol so get your mum to speak to her GP as with a prescription you do get a whole lot more!!
It sounds like the pharmacist is just doing their job....
xx

malkyh

I don't see what the pharmacy have done wrong here.

pmduk

bluenoseam wrote: »

I'd remind them that if the doctor has prescribed them then their expertise on the situation is probably better than the pharmacists own - as a result they should serve you. Doctor > Pharmacist.

Actually pharmacists usually know more about drugs than Doctors do, they spend much longer studying them.

pelirocco

honey10 wrote: »

That doesn't change the fact that they aren't medically qualified. Just because a drug won't interact with another drug that you are taking doesn't mean it will be suitable for you. A doctor would have a better idea, given that they can see your medical records.

An example would be, my nephew had earache. The pharmacist in the local chemist gave him some drugs without explaining what they were, just giving the 'take one three times a day' speech. it turned out they were antibiotics containing penicillin, which nearly killed him. A doctor wouldn't have prescribed them, so why should a pharmacist be able to?

I acknowledge that this may be a one-off, but I think illustrates the point I'm making.

i think you will find they are

patchwork_cat

honey10 wrote: »

That doesn't change the fact that they aren't medically qualified. Just because a drug won't interact with another drug that you are taking doesn't mean it will be suitable for you. A doctor would have a better idea, given that they can see your medical records.

An example would be, my nephew had earache. The pharmacist in the local chemist gave him some drugs without explaining what they were, just giving the 'take one three times a day' speech. it turned out they were antibiotics containing penicillin, which nearly killed him. A doctor wouldn't have prescribed them, so why should a pharmacist be able to?

I acknowledge that this may be a one-off, but I think illustrates the point I'm making.

I wonder if you are aware of the difference between a pharmacist and a dispenser. Pharmacist are medically qualified, as I said before they undergo a 4 year degree . The pharmacist will be in the back usually, and will usually require a request to speak to them. The dispenser may be front of house, but if it is a busy pharmacy the server may well be an assistant.

If you have a medication query always ask to speak to the pharmacist. As with all things there are good and bad, but there is no way a pharmacist gave you pencillin as that is not an over the counter drug.

Mupette

Talk to the pharmacist about this, they are only doing their job, i expect if they didn't people would complain.

My mum was on home dialysis for 10 years so completely understand where you are coming from, mum used to say she rattled when she moved, and even now 25 years and counting since she had her transplant she still has to take a cocktail of drugs