Tesco Pharmacy - when polite is not polite

Unkdb

I am appalled at this passive aggressive signage plaster all over the screens at the Didcot Tesco Pharmacy.

whilst I sympathise with them regarding their workload (the Sainsbury’s pharmacy has recently closed) these are obviously not official Tesco signs and I imagine have been created by the staff themselves. Had Tesco created the signs, they would have gone through formal copy review to ensure they were not putting themselves at legal risk or harming their brand. Imagine what it would be like if the fruit & veg team started putting up signs saying not to complain about the lack of bananas.

dil1976

So they should wait until Tesco authorise a sign to tell people to stop abusing them? You see these signs in various places now, more a reflection on peoples attitude of wanting it now mentality than anything else?

sheramber

What legal risk are they risking?

Most places dealing with the public have signs stating abuse of staff will not be tolerated.  A sad sign of the current  situation.

oldernonethewiser

Unkdb said:

I am appalled at this passive aggressive signage plaster all over the screens at the Didcot Tesco Pharmacy.

whilst I sympathise with them regarding their workload (the Sainsbury’s pharmacy has recently closed) these are obviously not official Tesco signs and I imagine have been created by the staff themselves. Had Tesco created the signs, they would have gone through formal copy review to ensure they were not putting themselves at legal risk or harming their brand. Imagine what it would be like if the fruit & veg team started putting up signs saying not to complain about the lack of bananas.

Is there another version of this photograph?  I cannot see one that says the pharmacy does not want customers.

In fact, I am appalled that I cannot see such a sign.

Peter999_2

It's the same at the York Tesco - exactly the same signs in a very similar position.     I started getting regular monthly prescriptions and opted to choose Tesco as I presumed there would be pretty professional.      I was greeted with all these signs and was completely put off by them.    I especially didn't like the 10 working days notice to get a prescription and how grumpy and ignorant the person serving was.

I've not been back since and now use a different pharmacy where you only have to give 2 days notice and the staff are very friendly and helpful.

Murphybear

10 days to get a prescription?  I order mine online and the prescription is sent to our tiny branch of Boots the same day or next day (depending what time I order them).  They are usually available for collection 2/3 days later.  

ForumUser7

Unkdb said:

I am appalled at this passive aggressive signage plaster all over the screens at the Didcot Tesco Pharmacy.

whilst I sympathise with them regarding their workload (the Sainsbury’s pharmacy has recently closed) these are obviously not official Tesco signs and I imagine have been created by the staff themselves. Had Tesco created the signs, they would have gone through formal copy review to ensure they were not putting themselves at legal risk or harming their brand. Imagine what it would be like if the fruit & veg team started putting up signs saying not to complain about the lack of bananas.

Goodness me, they could’ve at least run it through a spelling and grammar checking tool.

‘Please wait for a text message from the Tesco pharmacy not form you surgery’

‘Thank you for you coopertion’

‘Asked to leave immeadiately’

TheBanker

Any sign with the heading 'Polite Notice' is usually anything but polite.

People should not be rude or aggressive to shop staff. But I think people who are minded to be rude and aggressive will not be deterred by the presence of a notice. 

I have two pharmacies near me. One acts like we're still in the depths of Covid - face mask signs, 2m distancing markers and only three people allowed in the shop at once. If you do venture in, they act like they're doing you a huge favour by selling you a packet of paracetamol. The other is completely different - staff are kind, helpful, and are happy to give advice. I know they have gone out of their way to help people whose prescriptions have run out, people who can't gat a GP appointment, people who've lost their asthma inhalers etc. 

I am surprised the first one is still trading, to be honest.

badmemory

I think the pharmacies are having problems with supplies.  I know that each time my sons meds change I have minor issues getting them but after that they are available promptly.  It is interesting though to see all those phamacies closing when they are trying to tell us that they will be doing more to take pressure off GPs.

Zero_Gravitas

The particular issue in Didcot is that the Conservative government has forced the building of thousands of homes in the town, but with absolutely no accompanying infrastructure. It’s not currently possible to get on a dentists or doctors list in the town, and within the past two years two pharmacies in the town have closed down, and those that remain have cut their opening hours.

Boots have started sending their prescriptions away to some central facility to be prepared, but the queues are still right across the shop most days. Ordering prescriptions 10 days in advance is actually optimistic - it’ just not reliable enough.

strawb_shortcake

When my Daughter was 16/17 she had a part time job in a pharmacy. The customers were appalling. She was working for £4.28 an hour, often only her and a pharmacist. If the pharmacist didn't turn up she'd have to deal with the irate customers that wanted their prescriptions and explain once again why the pharmacy was shut.

She was sworn at, shouted at, had customers threaten to kill themselves in the shop and told if she didn't give them their medication their blood would be on her hands.

The reasons the signs are there are down to a tiny number of customers that abuse the staff. 

Within 9 months my Daughter was the longest serving member of staff. They could not retain the staff due to the customers behaviour and lack of support from the managerial team.

She could however, cross the road, work for Tesco who pay under 18's really quite well and not have to deal with angry and emotional customers.

The pharmacy has now also closed.