Pharmacy Dispensed Wrong Item

jhxmt

pre-reg wrote: »

Similaraly the counter girl made a simple mistake that we can all make - there is no need to complain to PCT and ASDA and get £25 vouchers!!

I agree with you that there's no need to complain in order to get vouchers (and I don't think that's what the OP was intending), but I do think there's a need to complain simply in order to bring this to the pharmacy/the store's attention, so that they can fix things and stop this happening again!

This is, in fact, precisely why complaints should be made. Not with an eye to any compensation, but with an eye to stopping similar (in this case potentially dangerous) incidents happening again.

I'm not saying "Get vouchers from them!" or "Get the counter girl fired!" or "Start a media frenzy about bad pharmacy staff!", I'm saying "Make a formal complaint so that this problem gets investigated, acknowledged and solved before something even nastier does happen with worse consequences."

Consider: it's far better for the OP to complain now about having been given the wrong prescription, than it is for someone else to complain in six months' time about their husband/wife having a major allergic reaction (potentially fatal) due to the same.

I really do agree with you on the whole people-complain-too-easily-to-get-compensation front, but in this instance I think there is a genuine need for attention to be drawn to this mistake. So don't think I'm just arguing with you for the hell of it.

mum2one

pre-reg wrote: »

i didnt mean that there is not a duty of care...all i meant is that we are too quick to moan..

Reading to see if your name is on a bottle of medicine is completely different to opening up a pc i would argue.

Like i say if we didnt look before crossing the road and something happened would we blame the DVLA?

Similaraly the counter girl made a simple mistake that we can all make - there is no need to complain to PCT and ASDA and get £25 vouchers!!

A simple mistake to me is handing out the wrong change - not putting somebodies health at risk by giving out the wrong precrription.

In the chain of complaints, 1st - Asda they were the dispencing chemist, 2nd the PCT - they regulate, turn it around had it been a membber of your family who hadbeen given the wrong prescription, would you be sat there twiddling your thumbs - I dont think so.

3rd - As for the £25, I did not ask Asda for the money they sent it as a goodwill gesture.
x

mum2one

jhxmt wrote: »

I agree with you that there's no need to complain in order to get vouchers (and I don't think that's what the OP was intending), but I do think there's a need to complain simply in order to bring this to the pharmacy/the store's attention, so that they can fix things and stop this happening again!

This is, in fact, precisely why complaints should be made. Not with an eye to any compensation, but with an eye to stopping similar (in this case potentially dangerous) incidents happening again.

I'm not saying "Get vouchers from them!" or "Get the counter girl fired!" or "Start a media frenzy about bad pharmacy staff!", I'm saying "Make a formal complaint so that this problem gets investigated, acknowledged and solved before something even nastier does happen with worse consequences."

Consider: it's far better for the OP to complain now about having been given the wrong prescription, than it is for someone else to complain in six months' time about their husband/wife having a major allergic reaction (potentially fatal) due to the same.

I really do agree with you on the whole people-complain-too-easily-to-get-compensation front, but in this instance I think there is a genuine need for attention to be drawn to this mistake. So don't think I'm just arguing with you for the hell of it.

Thank you- I couldnt of put it it better words myself. x

tinkerbell84

mum2one wrote: »

A simple mistake to me is handing out the wrong change - not putting somebodies health at risk by giving out the wrong precrription.

In the chain of complaints, 1st - Asda they were the dispencing chemist, 2nd the PCT - they regulate, turn it around had it been a membber of your family who hadbeen given the wrong prescription, would you be sat there twiddling your thumbs - I dont think so.

3rd - As for the £25, I did not ask Asda for the money they sent it as a goodwill gesture.
x

no, but then i wouldn't be shoving my '1st year of an OU law degree' down their throats either.

i agree with both sides. it was a mistake, and one that i can believe happens pretty regularly in supermarket pharmacies (i've seen how they operate). however, the consequences could have been very serious, and clearly the supermarket's procedures need to be looked at.

i'm not convinced that the pct's funds and time should be spent on it though.

mum2one

tinkerbell84 wrote: »

no, but then i wouldn't be shoving my '1st year of an OU law degree' down their throats either. stateing the facts that Im studying in the evening ???????????????

i agree with both sides. it was a mistake, thank you and one that i can believe happens pretty regularly in supermarket pharmacies (i've seen how they operate). however, the consequences could have been very serious, yes they could of been and clearly the supermarket's procedures need to be looked at.

i'm not convinced that the pct's funds and time should be spent on it though.

Excuse me- but if you want to throw an accusation about a post then read the whole post -

I merely pointed out that I was studying and it was not convient for them to come round! Yes I happen to be studying law, but that is one part of my overall course, as a OU student you study at home when and where you can,studying does not stop because its gone 5pm

onamission_2

I wouldn't bother with the PCT. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society GB is the regulatory body for the Pharmacy profession and they should be addressing standards for both the Pharmacist and the technicians.

tinkerbell84

mum2one wrote: »

Best bit just got off the phone from the manager -would it be possible for them to come round to the house to discuss the matter!! I pointed that Im up to my neck in study as Im studying Law (passed my 1st yr of law at open uni), so no it would not be appropiate, That if necessary I will contact head office in a couple of days time to see if the matter had reached them.

not sure how i mis-read that

mum2one wrote:

as a OU student you study at home when and where you can,studying does not stop because its gone 5pm

I know. I study part time with the OU as well. i'm often still up at 5am studying. :rolleyes:


anyway, i agree with you (to a point):beer:. i just rarely find that going on the attack is the best way to handle these kind of situations.

pre-reg

tinkerbell84 wrote: »

anyway, i agree with you (to a point):beer:. i just rarely find that going on the attack is the best way to handle these kind of situations.

Totally agree with this point.

izzybell

I appreciate that you are annoyed at what you have experienced at your pharmacy but has anyone thought to mention the times when pharmacies get it right. e.g.

-When they pick up on doctors/nurses errors
-When they check if you are allergic to penicillin, only to find that co-amoxiclav is a penicillin (you'd be suprised how many times it is prescibed as a penicillin alternative)
- When they give you good advice on your medicines

Pharmacies are supposed to have tight controls to make sure mistakes don't happen, and even when they do, mistakes can still occur- they are still human, not robots.
You will probably find that that most pharmacies will check the name and address before giving out medicines, and this if after the two dispensing checks already done.

I agree that we are becoming too quick to complain to higher authorities, simply letting the pharmacist in charge know would at least let them put in checks to make sure the same error doesn't happen again. We truely are becoming the second America.

pre-reg

izzybell wrote: »

I appreciate that you are annoyed at what you have experienced at your pharmacy but has anyone thought to mention the times when pharmacies get it right. e.g.

-When they pick up on doctors/nurses errors
-When they check if you are allergic to penicillin, only to find that co-amoxiclav is a penicillin (you'd be suprised how many times it is prescibed as a penicillin alternative)
- When they give you good advice on your medicines

Pharmacies are supposed to have tight controls to make sure mistakes don't happen, and even when they do, mistakes can still occur- they are still human, not robots.
You will probably find that that most pharmacies will check the name and address before giving out medicines, and this if after the two dispensing checks already done.

I agree that we are becoming too quick to complain to higher authorities, simply letting the pharmacist in charge know would at least let them put in checks to make sure the same error doesn't happen again. We truely are becoming the second America.

Many thanks for this post...you have said what i have wanted to say but in much better english!!

Finally some common sense prevailing.

Regards to everyone and merry xmas.