Going to the pharmacy

summerspring

@ LilElvis
I think the statistics say they save 600 or 650 lives a year. So, screening millions of people (I am not sure of the exact figures) at a cost of £28 each (in the case of the over 40s check ups) is a LOT of money in order to save 600-odd lives.

Good that your dad's still here, of course :beer:

22cuddles

chocdonuty wrote: »

I work in a pharmacy and we too offer this service Medicine use review (MUR) It's a good service in that you have longer than the allotted 7 minutes with the GP and can discuss your medication plus any medical issue easily. and without time restraints.
Unfortunately there is often a target to do a certain number of these per year, 400 for us and we are under a lot of pressure to complete that many. So we will ask anyone who is eligible if they would like this service and also sometimes explain how it works as some people just don't know.
Everyone is free to say no for whatever reason, we can also note in on their record so that next time meds are dispensed we do not ask again if required. Although we do generally know those customers who will never take part in the service.
We never push this service where it isn't wanted and probably will miss our target again this year but we like our customers, there's just no way of hitting it without dragging them into that room forcibly! Our customers are too nice for that, well the majority of them anyway
Personally I'd change pharmacy's if it were me, a simple no thanks should do.

This is exactly how we try and do it in the pharmacy I work. Nobody wants to alienate their customers. The unfortunate thing with MURs is that pharmacies do get paid a fee by the DoH for them which leads to employers putting huge amounts of pressure on pharmacists and their teams to do them potentially leading to situations such as that experienced by the OP. We used to have the area manager calling two to three times a day asking how many we'd done in one of my previous jobs.

scaredlady

This was going to be the gist of my reply. Yes the GP writes the prescriptions, but pharmacists are far more aware of how different drugs interact.
If I ever get to the point of needing multiple drugs, I will always trust the pharmacist ,more than the GP.
I tend to speak to the pharmacist in pref to the GP if I ever have a query about drugs I have been prescribed.

missbiggles1

summerspring wrote: »

Advice on forum etiquette coming from somebody who's been banned under every ID they've ever had on here, including this current one..?!
:rotfl:

Your statement above is incorrect, as is your idea that we're talking about etiquette.

If you're putting forward an opinion, you make it clear that this is what it is, if you're saying something is a fact then you need to be able to back it up if required - just like in real life.

Hedgehog99

Boots staff should be more honest in their initial approach - not "Have you got a minute?", which could mean all sorts of things, but "Would you like a medicines review?". Of course, they know more will decline the latter, particularly if they know it'll take much longer than a minute.

I have little faith in the modern Boots. It's lost the plot and seems more bothered about selling Christmas tat gift boxes than being a useful pharmacy. The pharmacy staff are rushed off their feet and they don't seem to keep reliable levels of medicines in stock. If someone goes in with an ailment that doesn't need any treatment, staff are told to sell them something anyway (e.g. a cream etc) [as confessed to me by a member of staff about two years ago]. Good old ADSA pharmacy can order a product I need - Boots cannot "because it's not on [their] list" despite being freely available for pharmacies to order. Boots will always sell the new/flavoured/small pack sized or otherwise most expensive version of a remedy.

summerspring

People can't always be expected to say in my opinion after each assertion, either online or in real life.

As for you being an multiple AE, not my problem - it's MSE's :rotfl:

meritaten

our local pharmacist is a small independent and even before these 'checks' were brought out, they made sure that the customer knew how to take the meds.
on one occasion the pharmacist picked up on a serious mistake the doctor had made on my sons prednisolone scrip. if he had taken it as doctor prescribed the overdose would have been serious. I would have picked up on that myself as I was very familiar with the drug and its dosage, but those not familiar with it could have taken it as prescribed. but found it comforting that the pharmacist was concerned enough to check with the surgery.
on another it actually contraindicated with a medicine on the same prescription!
I don't mind at all if the pharmacist wants to speak to me - their advice is usually sound and they have a better knowledge of drugs than doctors do I think.

fierystormcloud

Hedgehog99 wrote: »

Boots staff should be more honest in their initial approach - not "Have you got a minute?", which could mean all sorts of things, but "Would you like a medicines review?". Of course, they know more will decline the latter, particularly if they know it'll take much longer than a minute.

I have little faith in the modern Boots. It's lost the plot and seems more bothered about selling Christmas tat gift boxes than being a useful pharmacy. The pharmacy staff are rushed off their feet and they don't seem to keep reliable levels of medicines in stock. If someone goes in with an ailment that doesn't need any treatment, staff are told to sell them something anyway (e.g. a cream etc) [as confessed to me by a member of staff about two years ago]. Good old ADSA pharmacy can order a product I need - Boots cannot "because it's not on [their] list" despite being freely available for pharmacies to order. Boots will always sell the new/flavoured/small pack sized or otherwise most expensive version of a remedy.

I do largely agree. We have been to Boots so many times over the past 5 years, and 4 out of 5 times, there is always something on a prescription that they don't have and we have to go back for. Also, they will say 'come back in ten minutes,' but we go back in 20 minutes, and it's still not ready. Sometimes, the pharmacist has gone to lunch, and we have to come back, because even though all the stuff has been put together, the pharmacist needs to 'check it off.' :huh: Why did he not do that before he went to lunch? My prescription was there 15 minutes before he went!

And I agree with the posters who say that this medicine check, is always as you are picking up your prescription, and they don't give you your drugs, they hold them back until you agree to go in the back room with them, and it is never just a minute, it is more like 15. Like the OP, I find it annoying and slightly awkward too. I certainly was not aware that it was up to you whether you do it though. Now I know this, I shall endeavour to refuse next time.

summerspring wrote: »

Advice on forum etiquette coming from somebody who's been banned under every ID they've ever had on here, including this current one..?!
:rotfl:


Yes, like with any other health check, they're being paid to do them. They're not doing them for no reason, but the reason is primarily financial. There was a thread over on the health and beauty board recently about the over-40s health checks, and someone was stressing about being asked to attend one. I pointed out that the only reason they are offered is because the surgery (or pharmacy) are being paid for each health check that they carry out, and to just say no if they didn't want one.

As for the over 40 health check: I did not know that the doctors surgery got paid for these too. Nevertheless, these are different imo. Two of my sisters have been for them, and they said that they received letters telling them that the surgery were offering an MOT for over 40s; checking blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, the possibility of diabetes, an ecg for your heart rate, and a general chat about your diet and health.

Thing is, this was offered via post, and the patient was able to ring up and make the appointment if they so wish, at their convenience; and not be coerced/harangued/bullied into it.

This is all much better and more logical than jumping on someone, and dragging them into a back room at the pharmacy to make sure they're taking their medicines properly, when most people already go for checks and assessments at the doctors, and don't need this 'check.' It's a costly and pointless waste of time imo.

Also, I cannot believe how this thread has turned into a huge slanging match and how there has been so much backbiting on it. The OP only asked if she has to attend these medicine reviews. All anyone had to say was 'no!' There is no need to fight and argue, or to say the OP is 'missing the point' and basically being a bit rude to her.

Why does almost every single thread on here, no matter how innocent or simple, turn into a massive slanging match, with people turning on one another, and the same people backing each other up and 'thanking' each others posts?!

I think people must get very bored, and they do it to entertain themselves!

Indie_Kid

Last year, I was precribed an inhaler by a GP. It didn't work; so he increased the dose. I then saw the nurse and because it was starting to work, she told me to decrease the dose. I saw another nurse who told me I was taking too much. Apparently, I should have known that. I'm not familiar with Fostair at all in that way.

Before that, I was put on a turohaler. No-one had checked or indeed shown me how to use it.

Not had the issue with regards to interactions with medications. I do know in general what I can and can't take. Unfortuantely, it's most of the stuff they'd normally give me.

summerspring

fierystormcloud wrote: »

Also, I cannot believe how this thread has turned into a huge slanging match and how there has been so much backbiting on it. The OP only asked if she has to attend these medicine reviews. All anyone had to say was 'no!' There is no need to fight and argue, or to say the OP is 'missing the point' and basically being a bit rude to her.

Why does almost every single thread on here, no matter how innocent or simple, turn into a massive slanging match, with people turning on one another, and the same people backing each other up and 'thanking' each others posts?!

I think people must get very bored, and they do it to entertain themselves!

Sadly, I think the answer to this is that the board seems to be largely populated by women.

You get arguments and nastiness elsewhere on MSE of course, Discussion Time being one of the worst offenders, but the Marriages board is renowned for having a very childish and bitchy group of posters who back each other up and hit the report button if they don't like someone, which is why I usually stay well away.