I too experienced a problem with a Boots, in Liverpool.
I had gone to visit my son, and had stupidly, I know, left my bag at home, containing my blood pressure tablets along with other vital medication. Fortunately, I had packed my blood thinning injections separately.
It was after six in the evening and I was concerned, because I was feeling quite ill and very breathless. I should add that I am 70 and have 4 illnesses from which I am at risk of dying!
So I asked Boots if they would mind taking my blood pressure. The head pharmacist on duty looked at me in amazement, and said they couldn't offer that service.
I also looked amazed and explained that I came from Scunthorpe, where as far as I was aware, even the independent chemists would do it.
So he reluctantly opened a new BP monitor and took me into the private cubicle.
However, it needed batteries. Rather than opening a pack he said I should travel up to the hospital by bus, or wait until morning and register with a GP.
If only I had been able to reassure myself that all was well.
On one previous occasion, I had a chemist check my BP and he had called an ambulance immediately!
My concern is that if a smallish town like Scunthorpe can offer this service, along with diabetic checks and other basic checks, why can't a large city like Liverpool also offer this service at all it's Boots branches?
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Boots are really not looking good are they after flib's experience and now yours. I hope you complained about the treatment, or should I say lack of it you had. Hope all is well now.
For years, I have told many different medical personnel that I have had problems walking and talking.
Because I have always been a non smoker, and had been a fit PE teacher who toured with the British Gymnastic team and was also a County hockey player, swimmer and high diver, I was concerned about my breathing difficulties.
I also had Fibromyalgia, so all my symptoms were shrugged off as part of Fibro. I would also get various different responses to walking and talking. IE. well try talking less!
Two years ago, after a summer of bronchitis and then 6 months later pneumonia, I asked to be referred to see a specialist in thoracic problems. I also had constant wheezing and breathlessness.
Specialist
1. After filling in a form, I was diagnosed with reflux problems.
Referred to another specialist.
2. Test over night, for sleep apnea. I couldn't sleep due to pressure of band around ribs. (fibromyalgia cause of extra severe pain).
I left a message with the nurse to say that I had been awake all night so test wouldn't have been able to test for sleep apnea.
Surprise, surprise! I got a letter saying no sign of S.A. and discharged.
3. An x-ray confirmed that my liver and right lung were pushed right up. Other tests performed.
When I went back for results, I was mysteriously discharged with asthma spray. ( No use at all for my breathlessness.)
4.
In desperation I asked the doctors in London, St Thomas' hospital, who were treating my blood clotting problem Antiphospolipid syndrome to refer me to one of their consultants in respiratory problems.
After, many tests I was tested with an invasive machine that was only one of five in this country.
At last, after years of looking for answers, it was discovered that my diaphragm was parallelised. They could see that my liver, and right side of the diaphragm were raised and my right lung was squashed up. I was also retaining too much carbon dioxide and not able to get enough oxygen. My oxygen blood gasses were between 90 and 92.
As this also happened
while I was asleep, I was
given a c-pap machine.
My advice to anyone who feels that they are getting nowhere with a diagnosis, is to take charge of your own health, and ask for as many referrals as is necessary to get a correct diagnosis.
In my case, I had an unusual condition , complicated by other serious conditions, including an anachroid cyst on my spinal cord which caused double incontinence. I had also had multi TIAs.
So I just knew that if I wanted to survive for many more years, I needed to sort my breathing problems out, by pushing for further consultations with doctors who specialised in problems of the diaphragm.
I had suffered enough by having to give up my career as a non-smoking PE teacher and top sports women.
I was not going to be fobbed off with having reflux problems so take anti-acid medicine. Lose weight. And have an inhaler, and all your breathing problems will go away!!!!
Although I posted a positive report about a pharmacist at Asda I had a much different experience in the pharmacist within our GP premises. My GP suggested I start taking my emergency steroids if my symptoms did not improve in a couple of days. I hate having to take them but after a week I decided to take them. I had had them for. 3 months but only had a box containing 12 tablets , so I called in the pharmacy and explained my problem to the young assistant , the box was labelled 1 of 2 . She said she would look in the baskets in case they still had the balance. Before she had chance the pharmacist popped his head round and said, she will have to put in a request for more and those should have been used by now . He didnt look at me as I said they were part of An emergency supply I kept at home due to my condition. Again without looking at me he said, should she be taking these all the time. The assistant said I don't know but I will get one of the GPs to ring her at home. I was furious and said quite loudly that it wasn't necessary as I was obeying my GPs instructions. This happened in front of several patients waiting for their meds. I might be over 70 but not lost my marbles yet.
How blooming ignorant ! To talk about you as if you weren`t there or maybe as if you weren`t all there ! I`m quite used to being ignored by retail assistants who continue their conversation with a passing pal regardless of the queue that`s forming (wish I was invisible I`d leap over the counter and box their ears!)- but a pharmacist , presumably an intelligent being , should know better. yes joyce 73, I`m over 70 too and I haven`t lost my marbles either. Good luck, Sheila x
I ran out of pred a couple of days ago and my repeat order I'd put in wasn't verified yet. They suggested I go to the surgery counter and get an emergency prescription. They chemist and surgery are part of the same building. She said it wouldn't be ready until 4pm. It was 12 noon.
I explained to the chemist that I would be at work at 4 and wouldn't be able to collect it. She relayed this info to the pharmacist who very kindly made one out for me in lieu of the one later.
There are some good ones and there are some bad ones !
I have never heard anything so dreadful and think Boots needs to get itself up to speed with what to offer people. Without customers it would not exist so should stop being so arrogant! I do hope everyone who has had poor service like this from any Pharmacy complains as it is not good enough and putting peoples lives at risk.
I would go ballistic if they tried to treat Pete like that.
Must admit wondering if we maybe expect too much of our chemists,they seem to be being forced to taking on what a few years ago would be considered things only a qualified doctor should do.I don,t even know if they get any extra payment for these extra services they are expected to provide.When I last put a paper repeat presription into the surgery it had still not been dealt with after a week,phoned my pharmacist and picked up my eye drops an hour later.So it seems the chemists are being hit by the under funding of the NHS.Even when I phone the surgery it is pot luck if I get a receptionist that has any clue as to what they are supposed to do/know.I am so glad my pharmacist is so great.Looks like Boots need to buck up their ideas though!D. 👀
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