to be annoyed with the pharmacist assistant?

[holibobs]

I went to get my usual medication from the pharmacy. It's not a medication I'm happy to take and is a personal issue. Got to the counter to collect it and the pharmacist assistant loudly said the name of the medication, opened it up, showed me the tablets (in a busy shop - about 10 people queuing) and said 'are they working for you?'. I was utterly gobsmacked. AIBU to think she should have been discrete?

thermalsinapril

I'm shocked (surprised may be a better word) in general by the poor understanding of a profession almost all of us encounter fairly regularly. It's not that I blame people because you're right, it isn't well-publicised and that's what surprises me. The government expect the public to use pharmacies for more basic health checks like blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, without really publicising that a pharmacist is qualified for that.

I'm not a community pharmacist so this isn't my job role. But I am curious, you didn't answer my question. What do you as a (I presume) general member of the public not associated with a health care profession think a pharmacist's role is?

This really is quite interesting actually - I wonder if this is the view of a very large proportion of the population?

Okey. Don't turn this into a slanging match.

I am sure we now see that a qualified pharmacist can advise and question about our medication and I'm sure we all agree that personal details shouldn't be loudly commented on. Anyway as I said I have emailed the head office to said I was concerned that this person needed a reminder about being discreet.

Thanks for all your thoughts and advise everyone. I appreciate it.

Sounds good holibob!

Sorry you experienced that

*advice not advise!

Thanks Magic.

Magic

I think it is unfortunately. I studied Pharmacy and the number of people who replied 'oh I didn't think you'd need a degree for that' when I told them is unbelievable. I've been called conceited for thinking people should know about a pharmacist's role but I do think it's a profession with massive misconceptions by the public so I take every opportunity to try to put those right.

Okay that did sound a bit stuck up, 'put them right', that's not how I meant it.

Glad you've done something about it holibobs, I think you did the right thing.

indecisive ditto.

'What, so you're going to work in a shop?'

'I didn't know you needed a degree for that'

'Oh, you're going to work behind the till in Boots?'

Luckily there has been the occasional person who was shocked and replied, 'Wow, isn't that meant to be really hard??'

Yes. Yes it is hard

If you're putting them right, it's also putting them right for their own benefit.

There are so many things a pharmacist can help with - I'd love it if everyone was more aware of the services!

Magic

'Did you not get into Medicine then?'

Do you have long to go? Three more months for me (I hope!).

Thread hijack, sorry.

perhaps to her she felt no reason for you to be embarrassed about your medication.

Well that's not really her call is it? Surely if you you are a hcp, then confidentiality is part of your job. I wouldn't expect my gp to pop her head out and say, 'Mrs Hazeyjane are you hear to talk about your ......'

In our chemist, they have their roles on their badges - does no-one else have this?

Right. I'll wade in here with some factually correct information.

I'm a community pharmacist. I am 50% responsible in the eyes of the law for every prescription only medicine I dispense. If I require any further information from the patient before dispensing I will ask for it. I will not let something out of my pharmacy unless I am completely happy that it is the right medication, for the right patient at the right dose with no interactions with any existing medications. If I am unable to get to the counter (because I am already either engaged with another patient, on the phone to a patient or doctor, checking a prescription, sourcing a difficult to find medication, doing audit jobs for the nhs or any of the extra jobs my employer gives me - whilst listening to all the sales over the counter), then I will ask a qualified technician to counsel on my behalf.

This should, absolutely, occur in confidence. However in practice this is extremely difficult. Some years ago it was decided to open up pharmacies so that we are more accessible. however this means there is nowhere quiet at the counter and the whole counter is open plan. There is a consultation room but this is often in use. it is therefore impractical to ask patients to wait for the room to become available to ask one or two questions to confirm appropriateness of the prescription. (Surprisingly, patients are unwilling to wait any length of time for a prescription because 'it's only sticking a label on a box', how can it take 10 minutes?)

You would not believe the amount of time I've had to ask the next in line on the counter to please step back, because as soon as I open my mouth to speak to a patient the whole queue becomes extremely interested. (Nosy).

I, and my team, do try and keep our voices as quiet as possible, even though many of my patients are elderly and hard of hearing. If I have something sensitive to say I will always come out from the counter into the pharmacy, take the patient to one side and turn my back to the other customers whilst speaking quietly to maintain privacy.

I'd also like to say (as I have this at work all the time, because people think it's none of my business), that it absolutely is my business what other medications you take if you are buying medicines from behind the counter (pharmacy only medicines - sold under the supervision of a pharmacist - the key is in the name). This is because I'm 100% legally responsible for the sale of these. If you have an adverse reaction to anything sold, or an interaction with an existing medicine and you die as a result - I am negligent if I haven't asked, or had an assistant ask on my behalf. Result of this for me: at best - struck off and loss of job, at worst - prison sentence.

Phew! Bit of a rant there. Sorry.

But the op said that she asked loudly in front the other customers.

Our chemist is tiny, always crowded and the pharmacist and staff are always very discreet, and manage to be able to ask questions quietly without anyone hearing.

Holibobs, cross posted - unsurprisingly

Your're right to email, a gentle reminder about confidentiality is appropriate here. My post was more directed to those who seem to not understand the clinical aspect of a pharmacists role.

Good post pharmacist. A GP once prescribed the wrong type of inhaler to DS and I was thankful that the pharmacist noticed, and sorted it with the GP rather than leaving me with an inhaler a 3 year old wouldn't be able to take simply because it is what has been prescribed.

On the having to ask for pharmacy only medicines - how could it be proved someone has been asked? Surely if someone was that way inclined they could deny having been asked even if they had been?

Magic

I don't have any unfortunately. I'm a hospital pre-reg and there aren't many jobs.

That was lovely and articulate Pharmacist. I'd have liked that to be the last word but didn't want to be rude and not reply to Magic, sorry.

Sirzy - if someone wanted to be malicious and say they were never asked then, yes, it would be difficult to conclusively prove otherwise. However it is part of standard questioning and training at our pharmacy which we monitor and check continuously, so that should be enough to prove on the balance of probabilities that it was sold correctly. Where it is difficult is when someone is determined to purchase something and they lie to obtain it...

Fortunately for me, in that instance, the responsibility is their own, because if someone says they are on no other medication when they are - there is nothing I can do. I have to trust the information given to me.

Well said pharmacist

I love pharmacists
, sensible knowledgable, extremely helpful, saving lots of my time and the g.p.s time. First port of call for me is a pharmacist for advice,

YANBU to think that the pharmacy assistant should have been more discreet when talking to you about your medication.

Oops pmed you before I read your last few posts

I'm a hospital consultant and I rely heavily on my pharmacy colleagues to advise and basically cover my ass. The OP's experience sounds a bit shit, but honestly you're all better off with a qualified person double checking. If the health service is further degraded and you are given the choice between a silent, speedy robot pumping out a box of pills or a person talking to you and making sure you've got the right medication, please, please choose the qualified professional.

An MUR (Medication review) requires signed patient consent

The thing is that pharmacies seem to have targets (400/year), so maybe she was testing the water, before proceeding.
I can imagine that most people wouldn't think the pharmacist is the person to discuss this with.