Aarrrgghhhhhh 😥😥

[Winniepooh1976]

Hi all so I get a call today from a assistant pharmacist who cannot increase my meds or prescribe anything additional. She sounded incredulous at my increased pain levels after my fixing surgery to cut away fuzed scar tissue. Despite me explaining it was given to lessen my pain with some success as it meant I came off morphine. She also cannot refer me to pain specialist so have to wait for Dr to call Friday hate that I have to go through all the crap to try to get better days! I am so tired feel like going to bed and giving up. Just wish I felt supported and understood. Please let me find some relief soon and not be faced with a uphill battle as my fight seems to have gone 😧

[Hidden]

Sounds like your having a tough time, can I ask why you the pharmacist is sorting out strong medication like that and not the doctor? Surely you could get an emergency phone call with your GP and they could prescribe you proper pain relief until you can speak to a pain specialist?

X

[Winniepooh1976 in reply to Hidden]

Hi I was due a review and in the past my Dr has rang me but today I got a pharmacist assistant !? I have no clue why she said she could not increase my. Tramodol as she wasn't authorised and would ask a Dr to ring me back. I asked to speak to a certain Dr who wasn't available until Friday. The thing upset me was her total lack of knowledge on scar tissue fusion I had to explain how more is created during any further operations. My last surgery got me off morphine but was seven years ago. To be honest I have not focused on sorting my pain out as I have had postnatal depression and lost my mother 2 years ago, I kinda shied away from having to restart the whole pain clinic thing. I have been having trauma therapy so I feel stronger like I deserve better and more effective pain relief than the entry level I made do with.

[etheral]

Don't understand how. Pharmacist can decide your med levels . Guess we don't have it so bad in US.

[Hidden in reply to etheral]

Wow seriously the pharmacists in the US decide stuff like that? In the UK they have absolutely nothing to do with what painkillers people take or any say over what or how much you take they literally find it out if in a bag and give it to you lol

[Winniepooh1976 in reply to Hidden]

Yep that's so true the pharmacist at my local chemist just tell you any side effect or if antibiotics to take with/without food etc. I was so surprised a pharmacist assistant rang!! I have no clue why as my past reviews have been a duty Dr. I will ask when GP rings Friday.

[Hidden in reply to Winniepooh1976]

Do you have your meds delievered to you? Sometimes they call to make sure you still are having everything but of course they can’t actually change your disease that has to be a doctor. If your in that much pain call your doctor and ask for an emergency phone appointment and they will do it for you that day x

[Mary-intussuception]

You are in the UK, so why are you getting a phone call from an Assistant Pharmacist? They don't prescribe, doctors do.

[Hidden in reply to Mary-intussuception]

Yeah I thought that was odd, especially not an assistant pharmacist?? None of those do anything like that here in the UK do they?

[Winniepooh1976 in reply to Hidden]

Hi

I have no clue at all as I have said I expected a Dr and was asking for advice on my last post. The more people have queried it the more weird it seems?? She asked me if I still needed my Paroxitine and Amitripyline she knew what meds I took/take but could not increase my Tramodol !? I am going in surgery tomorrow to ask why she rang and not a Dr I asked Monday for a Dr to call was told Wednesday morning to be rang by a pharmacist assistant to be told a Dr will ring Friday!? Will update when get explanation.

[Madlegs1]

She's a pharmacist-- of course she can't prescribe.

It's her duty to know your medications and query you about them.

There seems a total mixup of understanding in this post!????

[Winniepooh1976 in reply to Madlegs1]

Hi madlegs1 that was my original issue and confusion in having her ring me?? All the other med reviews have been done by Dr over the phone.

[cyberbarn]

In the UK because there are not enough GPs they have started using other health care professionals to take up the slack. Sometimes this works well with simple things, but in many cases it makes more work for the patient because the HCP can't actually do anything and the patient still has to talk to the GP.

Pharmacists in the UK, after additional training, can prescribe within their competency. They can also deprescribe, that is remove drugs that are not being used any more. There are a lot of people who might be taking extra drugs that they don't need to take, or are still getting their prescriptions filled when they are no longer using a drug. These reviews by pharmacists can save the NHS money.

However, it can also cost money when the patient still needs to talk to a GP which is what your case is. And they can sometimes cause problems too, by not actually taking a full history of the patient, so advising incorrect information.

You should talk to your practice manager, and maybe make a complaint, because if they don't know about how these new things are working, they will carry on with them not realising the trouble they are causing, and the extra work they are also causing. It would also be worth reporting it to PALS and your local Healthwatch as they will be collecting patient experiences too.

[Winniepooh1976 in reply to cyberbarn]

Thank you so much for your reply I understand how overwhelmed our NHS is I try not to go to them unless things are bad. My quality of life has deteriorated a lot and even the normal day to day tasks leave me shattered and in more pain. I am so unhappy and cannot bear a future without any relief.

I do not smoke or drink am an OK weight I did not have pain relief for any of my five children's births. I have worked two jobs, fostered babies looked after my father when he was dying. I am not weak greedy selfish or a quitter I am just exhausted and over whelmed with the burden of break through pain.

[saj01]

Sorry, but only a GP can prescribe medication... a pharmacist is only a pharmacist and whoever it was is only do their job. They have to have the necessary paperwork from your GP.. the offer of getting a GP to ring you was the best they could do , even though it wasn't the one you particularly wanted. Had you accepted that, you may have had the problem sorted by now... or not, depending on their views on the subject.

[Winniepooh1976 in reply to saj01]

The on duty GP was one who I do not see so I asked for one who knows me and my history and I trust to ring me. I know the role of a pharmacist which is why I queried them calling me when I had been told it would be a Dr initially. I just feel/felt a little disappointed I had not been able to sort anything I though I would use this forum to have a little rant. I am over it now and looking forward to speaking to my actual GP and moving forward with my pain management journey. Thank you for taking time to share your opinion, your right, I would perhaps be sorted but chose to ask for a different Doctor. Totally my decision.

[Mary-intussuception in reply to Winniepooh1976]

I think you have been wronged. Hope it doesn't happen again.

We deserve better. You rant anytime if you need to.

Some time ago a Hospital /Health Authority Pharmacist attended our practice, entered my records and changed a vital medication for a generic replacement that is ineffective. I had to speak to a GP, then put it in writing to get it back. It happened again and my doseage was halved, I became unwell. On seeing Consultant again due to symptoms returning he wrote about this. Got correct tablet back at full dose. That should have been it. Then a new GP (who had previously impressed me) did my medications review and without saying anything changed it back to half dose and generic. I eventually got it back - but whilst at full dose still generic. Waste of my time and 2 GPs. She even blamed another GP! Have since seen a Consultant again who got it sorted. Correct dose of correct tablet.

x🐥

[AndrewT]

Accident & Emergency, Walk In Clinic, 111, even 999.....How DARE they treat you, like this!!!! Make a......, now I'm not Normally impolite but,.....Fucking 'Nuisance', of yourself!

I Think the Modern version is WTF, in My Day, 'What The F..k' used to Suffice.

In terms of getting a new GP, I have just Done that very 'thing' and, after a couple of hopefully 'Teething Problems' I am now registered (though not quite yet, to have my Drugs delivered to my Pharmacy). It IS worth Looking Into, honestly.

In any event/case I know that we all send you, our Very Best wishes, and pray that 'Everything' improves for you.

AndrewT

[Winniepooh1976]

Thank you so much AndrewT for your comments. It cheers me up reading this as I lay awake in pain again.

I may have to resort to 111 who will no doubt send me to AandE who will be busy and chaotic and stressful. To explain how I feel maybe get some temp pain relief. I won't ring of course because of my past dealings ( 8 years ago) I will see if tomorrow brings a call if not which is possible I will try Monday 😂