Heated discussion at Boots

[viv1969]

I usually take my prescriptions to my local dispensing chemist, however this past weekend I thought that because I had several errands to run in town, I would just drop my script into Boots, then pick it up again when I was doing with my errands.

Think again.

I went back to Boots and when the assistant can back to the counter with my items in bag, she said that before they would give them to me I had to speak to the dispensing chemist to discuss my medications. Now I had a medication review just days before with my GP, and had 7 minutes remaining on my car park ticket, so I told this to the assistant and she refused to give me my medications!

I asked to see the chemist who duly appeared and told me that he wasn't too happy about dispensing 2 particular pain medications to me at the same time, and would like to discuss it with me. I told him I had just discussed all of my medication with my GP, and was happy with the outcome of that consultation, and I had any issues then it would be to my GP that I would return.

Unbelievably he still was not keen on giving me my items, saying that he would feel better if he could dicuss it with my GP. Discuss it with my GP??? I must admit I got rather snappy, and decided it was time to remind him of his legal obligations and limitations. All of this was played out in front of the counter with a bl**dy audience.

Needless to say I will be returning to my local chemist Tout de suite.

 

[louiseb]

did the pharmacist give you your items in the end?

 

[sugar2]

Hi Viv,

Understand why you are angry about this..not what you need in the middle of town...but in my experience, the pharmacist know far more about interactions between medications...so might be worth another trip to the Dr to discuss perhaps...unless of course, you discussed that this combinations was not recommmended usually, but for you it was the right choice at your Drs review.

I I think that the pharamcist was just doingtheir job...up to the point where you spoke to them, aand they wanted to discuss with your GP.....that was too much!

 

[viv1969]

He did give me my medications, because legally he had no cause not to.

Hi Viv,
...unless of course, you discussed that this combinations was not recommmended usually, but for you it was the right choice at your Drs review.

Sorry, should have made that more clear.
I have a very carefully managed pain relief schedule which is always discussed at length with my GP.

 

[cugila]

Trying to be totally impartial here Viv........

The Pharmacist is highly qualified and GP's frequently consult them to check if a combination of drugs is safe. I had that confirmed by a Pharmacist friend some time ago. Without knowing what the 2 drugs in question were we couldn't comment any further.

Now if this Pharmacist had an issue with your prescription it is the GP he should have consulted and discussed with first. Not wait to ask you about it. I can totally understand you getting annoyed and frustrated.

As sugar2 has suggested you should as a matter of urgency discuss this event with your GP. See if there is a logical explanation or ask your own Pharmacist who apparently has dispensed these previously.

They all are governed by a strict Code of Conduct and he may have thought that he might be breaching that if he dispensed the meds ?

Under Sections 70, 71, 72 and 72A of the Medicines Act 1968 the Pharmacist has a legal duty to ensure the safety of any person who he dispenses too.........he is also covered by the NHS Pharmaceutical Services legislation.

 

[viv1969]

Cugila you are totally correct that Drs regularly consult with chemists regarding medications, an quite rightly so; however the chemist has no legal right to request from my Dr the reason why any medication is prescribed. It's not a 2-way street.

The chemist in question had taken the prescription from me, dispensed, packaged and sealed the medications involved, and stamped the prescription as 'dispensed to the patient'. Dated and initialled. Once it is marked as dispensed it is his legal obligation to provide me with it.

I have respect for the skill and expertise of dispensing chemists, and I have, in the past consulted them prior to visiting my GP (once avoiding a GP visit altogether); however I believe in this instance the gentleman in question considered himself to have more authority than he actually has.

 

[cugila]

Sorry Viv.
He DOES have a right to ask questions of your GP. They are both Health Care Professionals. They are both governed by the same 'Duty of Care.' They both can be 'struck off' and not allowed to practice.

He may have gone about it the wrong way but he would be in serious trouble himself if he dispensed something to a Customer which MAY be harmful. In exactly the same way the GP would be in serious trouble if he had prescribed something which MAY be harmful.

It is a 2 way street, they should all be working together. From my own experience I have had my own Pharmacist phone my GP to confirm a prescription was correct or not. It happens on a daily basis all over the country. Not just in Boots.

I can understand where you are coming from but I am trying to look at this dispassionately.

You do really need to discuss this with your GP.

 

[Sid Bonkers]

I believe in this instance the gentleman in question considered himself to have more authority than he actually has.

Do pharmacists not have a duty to prescribe safe combinations of drugs?

I have sympathy for you viv having to have this altercation in a busy shop is not ideal, however as has been said before pharmacists don't usually make errors when it come to drug combo's. My GP is brilliant but I would sooner listen to my pharmacist when it comes to drugs and they usage. Just my opinion of course

 

[viv1969]

I have a law degree and am qualified to practice as a solicitor in England and Wales, I am very aware of the legalities surrounding what information a chemist may request from a GP, also regarding the fact that once the medications are officially dispensed he must provide them to the patient. If he had doubts then he should not have dispensed the medication and stamped / initialled / dated the prescription.

 

[cugila]

Viv.
The law is clear in the legislation that I listed. The Medicines Act 1968. There is also the Medicines (Pharmacies) (Responsible Pharmacist) Regulations 2008 and Contractual obligations, such as the NHS Terms of Service.

The Pharmacist HAS a duty of care whatever you personally may think. He has the legal and moral right to ask questions of the GP if he needs to for clarification.

As previously stated the procedure was wrong, no argument there........that doesn't mean that he gives you drugs he thinks may not be appropriate just because he has 'signed' them off. He would be liable in a Court of Law if he knew that and handed you the drugs and anything happened.

He was being careful, something that should be applauded not castigated for doing his job, looking after the Patient/Customer interest.

I dealt with the Law, Criminal and Civil for over 28 yrs. I dealt with Solicitors, Barristers, Magistrates and Judges too. I'm sorry Viv but your argument is seriously flawed, you really need to check out the legislation and the codes of conduct of the UK General Pharmaceutical Council.

I think after you read all this in the cold light of day you might just see that what happened was not correct.....but was most certainly allowable and was legal.

 

[viv1969]

Cugila, I'm not getting into a legal p***ing match. You're someone I respect greatly on these boards and a scrap was not what I wanted from my opening post. I suppose my biggest problem was that I simply wanted to vent my frustrations, and this is a perfect outlet for that.

I don't need to discuss it with my Dr...I have faith that the medication schedule I am on (and have been on for some considerable time) is right for me. Rest assured that in future I will simply fill my prescriptions at my regular dispensary.

I thank you all for your replies, opinions and time, and please accept my apologies if any of my posts have ruffled any feathers. Have a great evening everyone.

 

[HLW]

I know of three cases where doctors have written prescriptions for dangerous/unsuitable items for friends/relatives - one example was a type of contraceptive pill that must not be taken if you have migraines, prescribed to someone with migraines.
So it's great if pharmacists challenge prescriptions they think are wrong. They are usually more reliable than doctors about medication - side effects and combinations etc.

 

[noblehead]

Viv,

I can see your frustration at being held up with your parking ticket due to run out, but I for one wouldn't mind if a pharmacist wanted to check the meds in case of a possible interaction, always better to be safe than sorry as mistakes can be made by gp's.

Nigel

 

[Hobs]

Writing from personal experience of Mr J my local Boots pharmacist manager.

Some years ago I was prescribed a new drug (to me) after I went to my GP with what I felt was an abnormal heart event.
I was put on the electro cardiograph machine by a locum and diagnosed with some form of arrhythmia with an urgent referral back to my cardiologist. In the mean time I was prescribed this new drug which the Boots pharmacist flatly refused to give me, citing a very bad adverse and dangerous reaction against my then present antihypertensive meds. He went as far as filling in some form and send me back straight away to see the locum with this form. I was not seen again by the locum but instead I was seen by one of the partners who fully concurred with the pharmacist and adjusted several of my meds so that the new drug would not clash.
The pharmacist was able to see at a glance what all my meds list consisted of because I was a regular customer with all my list logged into their system. If my list was not available to him he would have been forced to ask me what else I was taking.
If Mr J had not been doing his job as a responsible pharmacist, I would have taken the new pills and probably ended up with heart block and maybe even up that big final chimney.

I am sure an inquisitive pharmacist is simply trying to serve us the customers in a responsible and professional way and as some patients will confirm, our GPs do not always get it right.

 

[trand]

I was out for the day once, and had forgotten my meds, a boots chemist refused to give me any, as I was not on their system, these were b.p tablets and pain killers, and I have to agree with quite a few on this thread, I have used the same pharmasist for nearly 30yrs, and on 2 occasions I was prescribed meds, at my Gp's by locums, and the pharmasist strongly adviced me NOT to take them, shaking his head in bewilderment that I even been prescribed them ...

 

[lostonrye]

I have found the chemist's at boots unhelpful. I presented my prescriptions for Glucomen test strips
But the Gp had ommited the LX to denote the type of strips. however I had the old container
But the Boots Chemists refused to supply the strips and said i needed to return the prescription to my doctor to put the LX on the end. What a waste of everyone's time

I took the prescription to a local pharmacist + the old container he simply wrote the LX on the script and supplies the strips.
Needless to say I avoid boots for my medical needs.

 

[stewart.uk]

Well, Boots sound generally pretty professional and careful. Only sorry I don't have a local store. I take five or six different meds every day and it is a concern what such a concoction could do to me. All power to boots I say.

 

[viv1969]

Yes I take several meds several times a day too, but I shall continue to take my prescriptions to my local pharmacist, whom I trust beyond doubt, and shall avoid Boots like the proverbial.

 

[LittleSue]

A few years ago I asked a pharmacist what I could take for a cold. He told me it was dangerous to take decongestants "because you're insulin resistant, that's why you got diabetes" (wrong assumption - I'm T1 and very insulin-sensitive). He couldn't explain, so I went to another pharmacy where they explained the reasoning so I could make an informed decision and helped me find a suitable alternative. It depends on the individuals in each branch.

When you find a pharmacist you can rely on, stick with them. If you stick with one pharmacy/branch they know what you're usually on and if its something less common will keep a supply for you or predict when you're going to need it and order it in.

I'd be happy for a pharmacist to contact my GP about my prescription if he was unsure. Not to gossip about my diagnosis, but did the GP intend me to take both meds at the same time, had he considered potential interactions, is he aware the dose is higher than normal, etc. Between specialists and GPs letters usually explain the reasons, but letters aren't part of the process between GPs and pharmacists, so they must query anything that appears risky. A conversation is better than simply refusing to dispense it.

 

[anniep]

A GP prescribed something for my daughter which a pharmasist picked up as potentially dangerous for her.

So we are grateful for here intervention, but I suppose if it were something that I regularly take with no problems, then I might be annoyed if they refused to prescribe it.