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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to deck the pharmacist in Boots who:

50 replies

MadameOvary · 23/04/2011 13:20

...prescribed twice the necessary dose of antibiotics so that I spent most of yesterday throwing up and had to go to an out-of-hours clinic.
The fun didn't end there either, I was given an injection of anti-emetics and off I went, only for the doc to phone me and say that she'd injected me with the wrong drug! Shock
She was very apologetic and came round to administer the right dose.

I suppose I should be angry at her too but I'm not.Confused
But what if this had been a different medicine that could have had harsher side effects?

I just clarifed with Boots - the original prescription definitely stated one tablet twice a day, not two!

OP posts:
prettymuchapixiegirl · 23/04/2011 13:23

That's really bad; both of the pharmacists and the doctor. I thought when they dispense medicines it has to be checked by 2 pharmacists to ensure that mistakes like that don't happen. Definitely complain about both things!

Original poster
MadameOvary · 23/04/2011 13:30

I am on the phone to Boots Customer Services now. The box was checked out by two different people!!! Angry

OP posts:
thatsenough · 23/04/2011 13:32

Good practice is to have the medicine checked twice, once by a Pharmacist and once by a technician or assistant, but in reality this isn't always possible, although it is what I aim for.

It does sound like a bit of a mess all round and the best thing would be to make a complaint the pharmacy so that their standard operating proceedures and training are reviewed.

Out of interest which anti-biotic were you prescribed?

Rosa · 23/04/2011 13:38

Bad Bad Bad.....Imagine if it had been more serious. COmplain ...Hope you are feeling better now

Original poster
MadameOvary · 23/04/2011 13:41

thatsenough - it was Trimethoprim 200mg. Doc in out of hours clinic said that a normal dose can cause nausea on its own.

OP posts:
Original poster
MadameOvary · 23/04/2011 13:43

Right, have reported it to Boots Customer Services and as it was a clinical error their pharmacy superintendent(?) will follow it up.
Rosa - I feel RAF this morning but the nausea has gone - much relief!

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 23/04/2011 13:45

Google NHS choices and it will tell you how to complain, it can be done online. Do not just complain to boots, the pharmacy is franchised,that was unacceptable.

thatsenough · 23/04/2011 13:47

That is a problem - 200mg twice a day is standard and all pharmacists should know that. There is no real variation in the dose like there is with other anti-biotics.

By chancem, they didn't give you the 100mg tablets and double the dose did they? I would occasionally do that if we had run out of 200mg tablets (but would of course explain what I had done to the patient).

thatsenough · 23/04/2011 13:55

Boots isn't a franchiase, it is a company with one head office and one Superintendent Pharmacist (Disclaimer: I do not work for Boots!) - Believe me they will take the complaint seriously (although I would suggest you put it in writing) following these rules

?complaints are dealt with efficiently;
?complaints are properly investigated;
?complainants are treated with respect and courtesy;
?complainants receive, so far as is reasonably practical?
?assistance to enable them to understand the procedure in relation to complaints; or
?advice on where they may obtain such assistance;
?complainants receive a timely and appropriate response;
?complainants are told the outcome of the investigation of their complaint; and
?action is taken if necessary in the light of the outcome of a complaint.

and thet will have a legal obligation to report the incident to the PCT via the annual complaints report.

If you are not satisfied with the response or outcomes, the complaint should be sent to your local PCT.

Original poster
MadameOvary · 23/04/2011 13:59

^^ Good info, thanks! It was definitely 200mg.

OP posts:
eggyminniewhingesagain · 23/04/2011 14:04

That is a really bizarre error to make, I'm not a pharmacist, just a nurse, but practically everyone gets 200mg twice a day for trimethoprim - with other ABs the doses can vary quite a lot, so that is very odd indeed.

I would be very cross as well, I would ask for a thorough explanation and a formal apology, not least for the distress of the vomiting it caused. At normal doses it can cause nausea but it doesn't tend to IYKWIM.

Original poster
MadameOvary · 23/04/2011 14:09

It was as intense as I imagine hyperemesis to be - cant stand the smell of anything, severe nausea, disorientation and completely emptying your stomach till you had nothing left, and then still retching. Fucking horrible.

Hopes no emetophobes are reading this

OP posts:
Birdsgottafly · 23/04/2011 14:11

thatsenough-i ment that all pharmasist have to be licenced and the most effient way to complain about a pharmacist is via the NHS. Boots do have hold the licence for that one pharmasist, they are independantly monitored.

It will be quicker which will make the pharmacist take notice quicker (if they arn't already) thus preventing another possible accident.

I have a extensive social care background which has involved perscription drugs and luckly enough we have our own system of checking, otherwise over the years i would have seen quite a few deaths.

rainbowinthesky · 23/04/2011 14:11

Is that the one for utis? I took it and it made me very ill - shivers, rash, stomach pains, vomitting etc.

Birdsgottafly · 23/04/2011 14:12

Sorry for the spelling mistakes.

Original poster
MadameOvary · 23/04/2011 14:13

rainbow - yep.

OP posts:
thatsenough · 23/04/2011 14:17

Birdsgottafly - Not sure what you mean, each individual pharmacy has an NHS Contract (the same as GPs, Dentists and Opticians), we are indenpendent contractors, but are regualted by the NHS. Boots as a company has one Superintendent Pharmacist who has overall legal responsibility and will investigate fully.

ednurse · 23/04/2011 14:27

Are you sure the doctor didn't prescribe it wrongly? Some doctors handwriting also makes things a little unclear...then it wouldn't be the fault of the dispensing pharmacist.

thatsenough · 23/04/2011 14:34

Ednures - In defence of the Doctor all pharmacists should know the dose of trimethoprim - 400mg twice a day is just wrong and if unclear should have been checked.

ilovemydogandMrObama · 23/04/2011 14:35

the Royal Pharmaceutical Society is quite good at resolving complaints if you feel it needs it.

As a general rule, I don't like complaining unless absolutely necessary as everyone makes mistakes, but if medication is being wrongly prescribed, it can have serious ramifications.

Birdsgottafly · 23/04/2011 14:37

thatsenough-yes i know but that is my point, those that work in the 'medical field' are licenced to do so through a central database, they are not 'an employee' of were they work, as in other 'jobs'. I was just pointing out that if you have a complaint against a pharmacist you can do it online straight to the source of the 'licence', as such, as well as putting it in writing to the individual shop.

thatsenough · 23/04/2011 14:38

It is no longer the Pharmaceutical Society (that is now our professional body only - since March this year), our regulatory body is is the GPhC.

LadyWithNoManors · 23/04/2011 14:40

The pharmacist didn't prescribe the medication, he/she administered it.

We are all human and can make mistakes. For what it's worth the pharmacist will be mortified and I'm assuming will have to have filled out some form of incident form (I know that nurses would do this in this situation).

southofthethames · 23/04/2011 14:41

Did you say you actually got given trimetoprim 200mg (either a 200mg tablet or two 100mg tablets) to be taken twice a day? If so, that is the normal dose, no error prescribing. 100mg twice a day is only prescribed in special circumstances, eg patients with certain kinds of kidney disease.

If it was 400mg twice a day you were given, then that is definitely a mistake and you can complain to Boots to point out the error. Trimethoprim does give some people unpleasant side effects but it is one of the most effective antibiotics out there. (yes, I have a medical background, in case other MNers are wondering).

As for the wrong drug, that is a fair complaint. I think the staff have already logged it as a serious incident, they have procedures when this happens.

Poor OP - a very unlucky day! Hope you recover soon.

thatsenough · 23/04/2011 14:45

We do not have a license - I really do not know what you mean.

As a pharmacist I am a Member of the Royal Pharmaceutical Society which is my professional body (optional).

I am also a registered with the GPhC (mandatory).

Pharmacies have their premises registered with the GPhC and are regulated for standards by them (a complaint could be made to them, but it wouldn't be my first route).

Pharmacies also hold an NHS contract which for the time being is monitored by the PCT (who knows what will happen in the future and work in pharmacy politics!).