to want to complain about this "jobsworth" Pharmacy assistant?

[diabolo]

Scenario - me at work with thumping headache and no painkillers.

So after work I popped in to the Pharmacy around the corner from my school and ask the Pharmacy assistant for a packet of Solpadiene (after many years of being prescribed all sorts for my hormone headaches these are the ONLY thing that work).

The assistant frowned at me and said "Solpadiene? For you? I think you've bought them from here before!" [stern look]

Me "Probably, I work around the corner so you're very convenient for me"

Her "Well...... I'm sorry but I don't think I'm going to be able to let you have any. I recognise you and I'm sure you've bought them before. We have to make sure people don't get addicted to them, they've got Codeine in them you see?"

Me "Yes I know that, perhaps that's why they work so well?. I have bought them from here before, but I don't see that makes me addicted to them. I only use them when I've got my period. Can I have a pack of 32 please?"

Her "No, sorry. I'm just obeying the law. We can't sell them to people we believe to be addicts!" [you should have seen my face at this point

Me - "Let me get this right? You are refusing to sell me some painkillers that DO NOT need a prescription, and that can be taken by 12 year olds and that you have on general display? Can I speak to the Pharmacist please?"

Her - "Sorry, she's at lunch for another half an hour".

Me - "Are you going to sell me these headache tablets or do I need to make a formal complaint about you".

Her - "I can't sell them to you when I believe that you have bought them before. I'm trying to help you. I can sell you another product but not one with Codeine in. You can't complain about me because I'm only following the law".

This whole exchange took place in front of 3 other customers. I ended up driving (head thumping madly by this point) 20 minutes across the town to another Pharmacy, where the Pharmacist himself sold me a pack with only the usual warning of "don't take them for more than 3 days in a row and don't take with any other product containing paracetamol".

Should I complain? I am still furious (and I still have a headache).

that's just crazy

Absolutely fucking ridiculous. Unless your name is usually TheDev...oops, nope, bad idea

yes complain. some people love the power

She's doing her job, Plus is the pharmacist is on lunch she can only sell GSL meds it's the law, any meds with P is pharmacy only so yes YABU

Are they on-the-shelf or over-the-counter drugs?

Technically they can refuse you either if they like seeing you in pain.

GSL is general sales meds like 16 paracetamol

omg! so now buying it a couple of times makes you an addict??

definitely complain

Blimy we are adults,not kids, nanny state gone mad.

Yes, you should write to the pharmacist pointing out that her shop is the local one and you buy lots from there.

It is not following the law to 'recognise' a customer - if you were buying them every day or two then of course she could discreetly say no.

Ridiculous. Complain. Particularly awful to humiliate a customer like that in front of 3 others. Addict indeed. Defo complain.

If she sold them to you without a pharmacist on the premises she's breaking the law and so is the pharmacist who would be reported to the Royal Pharmacutical Society.

Regardless of whether this jobsworth thought the OP was an addict or not she chose to say this to the customer in front of 3 others! Totally unacceptable.

How often have you been buying Solpadeine? Are you having it every day?

Does she think someone would only ever buy one packet of these in their life?

How bizarre!

pumpernickel... if she had said "sorry i can't sell you these because the pharmacist isn't here" I am sure the OP would have been fine with that

refusing to sell them because she believes she is an addict simply because she has bought them before is totally out of order!

But Pumpernickel, Solpadeine is an over the counter painkiller, not a pharmacist only product. It's on shelves in Tesco! I'd complain OP, but if the assistant persists with their argument, I doubt you'll get very far. Hope your headache goes soon.

I understand that and I understand the op too.
op is your solperdine a GSL or P product?

It was embarrassing. I buy all sorts there - Vitamin C, tampons, sticking plasters, items for the school first aid box if we run out. I go in there at least once a week, so I am sure she recognises me, but hardly ever to buy Solpadiene.

One of the men in the queue gave me a very funny look as I marched out of the place.

Yes complain. She is clearly a lunatic.

Diablo means devil.

I'm diabolo -it's a kids juggling game.

I would complain but make the issue her attitude rather than the refusal...

I didn't know that blessed was it the max you was trying to buy as that's a P product op

I've had experience of this sort of thing. It's mad because you cam just go and get them somewhere else anyway. My mum and I went to get some piriton for my mum. She said to the pharmacist that she wanted the ones that were not non drowsy as she takes them at night for her allergies and the non drowsy ones keep her awake. Cue the pharmacist assistance saying she couldn't sell them to mum because she was trying to use them as sleeping tablets and that is not allowed we tried explaining but she would not accept what we were saying. WTF! So we went to another pharmacy and they sold them to is straight away. Madness. I would complain.

Pumpernickel - it is the one behind the counter, with 500mg paracetamol and 8mg codeine. If it was on the shelves in Tesco I would have gone there.

I take it for about 3/4 days a month, maybe 3 x 2 per day. I get headaches around my period that last for days. It seems to be the only thing that takes the edge off, apart from the contraceptive pill, which means no headaches, but gives me other problems.