Wrong medication sorted

[PinkKizzie]

Hi, to all who replied to my wrong prescription, I've been to the chemist and I've now got the correct tablets. Chemist very apologetic for the serious mistake and there will be a full investigation. My pharmacy really gives a great service, and all staff very courteous. They are shocked that this dreadful mistake could happen and will take things forward. Take care x

[Sixtychick]

That is very bad. Good job you were alert. Someone else, might not have realised and they would have taken the wrong medication. I always check everything I’m prescribed, especially for reactions with the other medication I take, as I know Drs don’t always do that.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Sixtychick]

Thank you for you reply Sixtychick. Yes, I was thinking the same as you. I am very particular about all my meds as they help me stay alive!! Take care x

[Sixtychick in reply to PinkKizzie]

I have a list of drug interactions for the 3 medications I take, which I have on my phone, that I got from the N.I.C.E. Website, as my Sotalol particularly, reacts with a lot of other medications. Take care yourself.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Sixtychick]

Thank you. I keep a list of my meds in my handbags just I'm in an accident or take unwell. x

[Turnipgirl in reply to Sixtychick]

Yes I always check everything is OK before I leave the pharmacy and if there's problems they can sort them there and then.

[BeKind28-]

Hello

I am not sure I saw your post but I am so glad they have sorted this out and taken responsibility

It is not good when mistakes happen and they do but makes you feel a little bit better when they admit they have got it wrong and take it seriously

Glad you are all sorted now x

[PinkKizzie in reply to BeKind28-]

Thank you BeKind28- chemist was horrified that such a serious mistake could be made, but all sorted. x

[BeKind28- in reply to PinkKizzie]

x

[Turnipgirl in reply to BeKind28-]

How are you getting on?

We are fine here and off up to west cardiff for interviews today!

[BeKind28- in reply to Turnipgirl]

Hello

Sounds like you have a lovely day planned I hope the weather is nice for you to

I will be honest I have been better got to try and get me out the house today and been agoraphobic well that does not go down very well but at the top of mu strumn I have a bony lump that seems to have got bigger and it clicks and the Doctor wants it scanned so I am really worried and have made myself feel ill like I always do

Thank you for asking though that is really kind of you x

[Turnipgirl in reply to BeKind28-]

Today the interview at 12 is at a place in West Cardiff where I got emotional when I signed the lease for my current place last year just before I was due to be evicted by bailiffs and thankfully I got out the day just before the bailiffs were due to arrive!

I think it was tears of relief when I finally got to sign that lease after 10 months of going through the legal eviction procedure that I finally knew where I stood!

I have come a long long way since that Friday in May last year just before the bank holiday when I came to West Cardiff to sign that lease!

I'm sure the housing officer was used to having people in tears in there when he was very kind!

One thing is certain is I won't be visiting the pub across the road from the council office again as when we called in for lunch last year just before signing the lease they were extremely rude to us and there was no call for it and I was stressed out anyway and didn't need to deal with their rudeness but it was a lesson not to go near that pub again!

I had a phase of being frightened to leave home myself after all that happened but set myself small challenges at first and saw them through and now leaving home for a full day is second nature!

You will be doing that again in due course as well!

[BeKind28- in reply to Turnipgirl]

x

[Turnipgirl in reply to BeKind28-]

I got through my interview this lunchtime and went away feeling I had given it my very best which is all I can do really!

I decided to treat myself to a nice leisurely lunch out this lunchtime near the place where I will be interviewing at 4.30pm this afternoon and then back home after the interview!

I have been on the receiving end of mean comments in regard to me daring to go out and heaven forbid on a weekday as well as the ones who make the comments I think are small minded and think that everyone works Monday to Friday 9/5 and that the world is about to end when someone dares to go out during those times!

I decided I will live my life as I see fit and come out when I want to and if it's on a weekday so be it!

Why should I miss out because of someone else's rudeness?

[BeKind28- in reply to Turnipgirl]

Hello

Really pleased you have had a good day x

[Turnipgirl in reply to BeKind28-]

Yes it was an extremely productive day and it's extremely rewarding getting out and improving my confidence after it got knocked last year when I got evicted.

[BeKind28- in reply to Turnipgirl]

x

[Carercmb]

Mistakes do happen . Pleased all was ok due to your vigilance. We should all check before taking.

Pleased the chemist are taking it seriously.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Carercmb]

'morning Carercmb, thank you for your response, yes, mistakes do happen. The chemist was horrified to learn what happened, especially when it was checked by two people. There will be an investigation as to how this could happen and it will be reported (I can't remember who the manager said). My chemist provides a brilliant service and all staff courteous, and I think I can say confidently it won't happen again. Take care x

[Carercmb in reply to PinkKizzie]

I notice that some medication is similar in name but for totally different illness.

Makes you double check .Pleased this mistake hasn’t put you off your chemist.

In todays world where it’s difficult to speak to a doctor they are invaluable.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Carercmb]

Absolutely invaluable x

[Turnipgirl in reply to Carercmb]

Better safe than sorry!

[JennyRx]

This mistake has been caused by what we call in pharmacy LASAs. Look alike, sound alike and it’s a common cause of errors. In our pharmacy we have a third check as we have to scan the bar code on the box which would immediately flag up the error. It’s very hard with pharmacies under so much pressure, losing money so can’t afford extra staff, and increased pressure to do lots of services and 111 and GP referrals. No excuse though. I’m always beyond mortified if an error happens but until we have fully automated robot dispensing sadly human error cannot always be overcome

[Turnipgirl in reply to JennyRx]

When I worked in a hospital pharmacy they had a robot that dispensed most of the medications but you had to make sure the prescription details were keyed into the computer accurately.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Turnipgirl]

Hi Turnipgirl, soon we'll be speaking to robots rather than a real person, lol. I actually have a fear of robots, even the thing that can cut the grass by itself! Thanks for your reply. Take care x

[JennyRx in reply to Turnipgirl]

Electronic scripts in primary care have a barcode so no inputting. Possible error from prescriber could happen. Robots are merely tools to free up human professionals to do what they’re best at. I don’t need to be dispensing but I need to be talking and listening to patients, making assessments and triaging to GP, 111 or other appropriate services.

[PinkKizzie in reply to JennyRx]

Thanks again JennyRx, always good to know more info. Take care.

[PinkKizzie in reply to JennyRx]

Hi JennyRx, thanks for this very interesting info. It hadn't occurred to me that wrong meds could be issued. Everyone was mortified and so apologetic and I actually felt bad for them. I know it won't happen again. Take care x

[Silvasava]

Always check your medication before you leave the pharmacy for the correct product and strength. That way it can be resolved immediately. Yes. I too learned the hard way!

[PinkKizzie in reply to Silvasava]

Hi Silvasava, thank you for your reply. Good advice, I'll check before I leave the shop. I'm sure they will review their procedures, it's very unfortunate this has happened as they give a great service. Take care x

[Qualipop]

Thank goodness you checked. My chemist made a similar mistake a while back and had to do a full investigation. Luckily mine wasn't a dangerous mistake

[PinkKizzie in reply to Qualipop]

Hi Qualipop, thank you for your reply, I hope you hadn't taken any of the wrong meds. Mistakes happen, but all sorted. Take care x

[Qualipop in reply to PinkKizzie]

NO I hadn't taken the wrong ones thankfully but it certainly caused a panic at the chemist. They sent someone up to collect hem immediately because the label showed who packed them and they brought me the correct ones. It was actually a week after they were delivered when I went to fill up my weekly pill box.

Mistakes can happen but with a chemist they shouldn't. The wrong drug could kill someone.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Qualipop]

Great you hadn't taken any. At home I'm organised with my medication, I have a drawer for meds only and replenish the ones I've taken every three days, then I can keep track on what I need to order. x

[Qualipop in reply to PinkKizzie]

My chemist rings me evry month then I just go online and order what I need. Thankfully not that many.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Qualipop]

I've never heard of our chemist ringing patients, but I must check that out. Are they phoning you to say what needs ordering? I just keep a check on what I need and then order them online through my Doctors surgery, then collect the meds in two days.

[Qualipop in reply to PinkKizzie]

NO they ring me a week before my prescription is due just as a reminder to order it online. In fact your message made me think nine must be due this week so I rang them to check. They had forgotten to ring me or they rang yesterday while I was at the hospital.

It's all electronic. They remind me every 4th Thursday; I Order it online, G P sends the prescription to the chemist by email who then order it and deliver to my door the following Thursday.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Qualipop]

What a brilliant service. My GP sends my prescription to the chemist and I collect from there. I take 10 tablets daily and they all run out at different times. We do have a delivery service for anyone who can't get to the chemist.

[Qualipop in reply to PinkKizzie]

Talk to your GP surgery or their pharmacist if they have one and ask them for a few extra so they all run out at the same time. MInd sorted my out just fine.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Qualipop]

I'll make enquiries next time I'm in our surgery. Glad you are all sorted x

[fantasyfanuk in reply to PinkKizzie]

I take 7 different tablets and they used to run out at different times. The gp was able to sort it out so I could just order them all at the same time once every 3 months, which is so much easier. Maybe yours could too?

[PinkKizzie in reply to fantasyfanuk]

Hi fantasyfanuk, thank you for your reply. I'm on lots of meds for ever now seeing I don't have a pacemaker (see my bio) so I'll approach the chemist first to see if they can suggest something. Thanks for the suggestion. Much appreciated. Take care.

[Turnipgirl in reply to PinkKizzie]

The well pharmacy do a delivery service as they delivered to a housebound neighbour up until he died back in May from terminal cancer.

He had requested a ground floor flat just before he died and kept getting fobbed off which I reckon was a disgrace when he was in need of one!

One Saturday night back in May I had just come back late from the Tredegar House folk festival and a production at the village hall up the road watching some plays there and the police were in the flats and I just knew it was bad news and how right I was when the out of hours doctor came and the funeral director as well which had me in tears!

Even though I knew he had terminal cancer and it was soon and I wasn't surprised it was still a right shock when that happened coming back to that!

That gentleman had no decent quality of life just a miserable old existence and part of me was glad for him when he died that he was no longer suffering.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Turnipgirl]

Hi, thank you for the information and your story. Take care.

[Turnipgirl in reply to Qualipop]

Is it a small village chemist that you go to?

Where I live there's an independent chemists run by a family which used to be on Newport road Rumney but have moved down to the new health centre building.

When I worked in North Cardiff I would visit an independent chemist run by a family and they couldn't do enough for me rather than go to Boots!

[Qualipop in reply to Turnipgirl]

Did you mean to reply to me? I use an independent chemist in town who are great.

[Turnipgirl in reply to Qualipop]

Yes I just wondered when you said the chemist rung you was it a small village one as the independent places can't do enough for you!

[PinkKizzie in reply to Turnipgirl]

Hi Turnipgirl, a small independent chemist, they are very good and all staff are very courteous. All fixed now. Thank you for your message.

[Qualipop]

Oh i see. It's an independent chemist not far from us in town.The chemist has a system set up where they phone every patient each month, a week before their repeat prescription is due and just tell them it's time to order. I then order my repeat online using patient access of the NHS app ; the GP takes a day or two to authorise it direct to t he chemist who then has around 5 days to order everything from their supplier. They then deliver to my door at 10.30am every 4th Thursday. just a week after they've reminded me. If I don't hear the phone hey leave an answer phone message. They are also excellent at getting brands they know I won't react badly to. I have awful problems with colourings and fillers in a lot of generic medicines.

[PinkKizzie in reply to Qualipop]

Sounds a brilliant service Qualipop, I think my chemist deliver if you request it, but I don't need that, not just yet anyway. Thank you for your response.