Horrible ordeal - update

This is the second reply i received to my complaint: I done have the energy to pursue it further

The pharmacist must always put the interest of the patient first when dispensing medication, hence they should always question any medicine prescribed that they believe not to be appropriate.

They can only do this by asking the patient for details and this should be done in a professional manner preferably in a private area away from other people.

The issues you have raised do not lead me to conclude that the pharmacist’s fitness to practise is impaired. For this reason the General Pharmaceutical Council will not be taking any further action with regards to your complaint.

You may wish to pursue your complaint to the superintendent pharmacist for Boots who is responsible for the professional standards within all Boots’ pharmacies, their details are below:

[Wendom]

Hi inkedup if this was the case then they would have to ask every person who gave them a prescription a ton of questions but they don't I've never been questioned about a prescription ever how would they know what was and wasn't appropriate its none of there business there not qualified enough to question a GP prescription the pharmacist has probably never heard of pbc I haven't come across one yet that has I wouldn't give up maybe get someone to go to the same pharmacist tell them they have pbc and see what the pharmacist has to say I would record it on smartphone then if they don't have a clue play it back to boots and ask why someone who hasn't a clue on pbc was able to question your prescription then you've got them just something I'd do I wouldn't let them get away with it also our medical problems are confidential so we don't have to tell them any of our business I would of asked them to give me my prescription back and I'd of took it elsewhere after all it your prescription not there's good luck with this if you pursue it x

[LindaRose]

I was taken into a little room to discuss my meds a while back - the lady was very polite and I didn't mind, but did give me incorrect information about one of the meds.. I agree that I don't think it is their place to question prescriptions that doctors and consultants have given you, if there is a question it should surely be directed to the GP, not the patient. The patient often doesn't have enough information to qualify the case anyway. I think this should be the question that should be brought to the pharmacist - why are they doing this and what do they hope the outcome would be, I think it just confuses and obviously upsets the patient if they disagree with the doctors.

[Val02]

Hi At my local pharmacist they have a little booth that they take you into to discuss your meds.

The pharmacist started the procedure, by first explaining the new system of pharmacists checking your meds is to relieve some of the workload of GPS. Pharmacists do actually have more knowledge of interactions etc than GPs. I was saved form being made very ill once by a pharmacist who spotted an interaction that the GP had missed.

Saying that that is no excuse for the shoddy way you were treated. Perhaps try a local pharmacist who will often have more time for you and I suspect see their role in the communtity differently from a chain store.

[Hidden in reply to Val02]

Unfortunately where I live, town (translated to 'urban decay') I don't think as I can recall we have any independent little pharmacies here anymore. Boots took over the smaller ones which isn't open very much. On the occasions I have popped in enroute home from town for certain items that aren't related to prescriptions or medicines, I've yet to see the same person working there.

[Hidden]

Didn't like the response which states the pharmacist should question any medication they think inappropriate!

I know I'd certainly not want to be stuck in a pharmacy and have to divulge my health issue(s) all over again to someone who hasn't even got relevant medical training, that's between myself and the doctor.

I thought it bad enough several years ago when my 20+ daughter had me tagging with her to the pharmacy so she could be given the morning-after pill. I thought then the pharmacist asked far too many questions but in that case it was different as my daughter had approached the pharmacy and that is where she was directed to go on not being able to get a GP appt or one at the Family Planning that day.

I also thought that a patient presenting to a pharmacy with a prescription had it already authorised by a GP (or hospital doctor) and in these days now where a prescription is printed out as opposed to the old fashioned scrawl a doctor used to write with pen on the prescription, presumed that did away with a bit of confusion or possibly mis-prescribing of which years ago I would have thought it valid at times for a pharmacist to question what was scrawled on it. I know with my late first husband he once got a script from the GP and we had to go back as the pharmacist couldn't dispense what was on it.