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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Woman on the Sainsbury's pharmacy counter

394 replies

SoggyBottomBoys · 18/02/2017 12:35

Shopping in big Sainsbury's this morning with baby. Tried to buy some Solpadeine at the counter. Have been suffering from various post-birth complications and SPD that's flared up pretty badly (I was basically hobbling). Conversation (in full earshot of 3 people queuing behind) goes like this:
Pharmacy assistant: Have you taken this before?
Me: yes
PA: Are you on any other medications?
Me: No.
PA what are you taking it for?
Me: I'd rather not discuss that.
PA: Then I can't sell this to you.

And she refused to sell it to me! Unless I told her what was wrong with me. Which (because I was really annoyed/emotional by this point) I refused to do. So I walked off almost in tears and now have to lug myself to a chemist to buy some when I can frankly barely walk.

Am I right in thinking she crossed a line here? The first two questions are completely fine. I have no problem with being warned of side effects, don't take for more than 3 days, etc. But the third one just seemed so intrusive, especially in public when it's a woman who clearly has a small baby they have recently given birth to. They can't demand you tell them what's wrong with you...can they?!

Tell me if IABU... as I am so cross I'm considering complaining.

OP posts:
LonelyTears · 18/02/2017 16:51

@Astrantia I think you were a bit dramatic there!! The Pharmacist HAS to inform you off it's addictive qualities and offer an alternative! It's their job!!!!!! It's the LAW!!!!

BeaveredBadgered · 18/02/2017 16:56

Fair enough winter. I'm sure your local pharmacist would be happy to reassure you that they're familiar with informed consent and data protection laws. It's mentioned once or twice during the four year masters and pre-reg training year.

BeyondThePage · 18/02/2017 16:57

Polly - no I am a counter assistant - we ask some basic questions to see if the pharmacist needs involvement (our training covers the red flags... ) and would always ask if a customer wanted to be seen privately by the pharmacist in our consultation room - though we are a community pharmacy, so usually only dealing with one customer at a time.

(though sometimes they are like buses - 3 at once and none for ages!)

UnbornMortificado · 18/02/2017 17:04

Expat for sleep aids, travel sickness works like a charm. I've took them in the past for a similar reason.

I'm sure codeines a class B drug (although possibly not in that quantity) I always get asked what it's for I thought that was just standard practice.

MissJSays · 18/02/2017 17:07

YABU
It's just her job, if she doesn't ask she can be disciplined. She could lose her job for gross misconduct.

We have a small consultation room next to the pharmacy desk which you may not have seen as it can blend in. You could have said you'd rather not discuss it with a queue of people behind you, and she would have offered you some privacy.

She's not just going to sell you an addictive drug because you have a small baby with you!
If you were in her shoes you wouldn't risk your job either.

PossumInAPearTree · 18/02/2017 17:10

Some pharmacists refuse to sell me phenergan. They ask what I want it for, I say as an antihistamine which is its purpose in life and they refuse to sell it me and say there's better stuff available.

I actually want it to knock me out when I'm working night shifts but don't tell them that as it's not licensed for that. I go to Tesco where I never get asked and get it there.

UnbornMortificado · 18/02/2017 17:16

Possum pheregan was the sleep aid I was referring too. I've never had any questions when I've said travel sickness.

An antihistamine is a lot safer then the z-drugs or benzo's imo anyway.

reuset · 18/02/2017 17:18

She should have offered a private room if you have to disclose and seemed reluctant, understandably. I don't blame you for feeling upset

Chocolate123 · 18/02/2017 17:23

TheWinter yes I'm a pharmacy technician

Butteredpars1ps · 18/02/2017 17:32

OP you don't have to explain your whole medical and social history. You don't even need to give a diagnosis.

Q What are you taking it for?
A for pelvic pain

The end.

JJbum · 18/02/2017 17:34

She should/could have offered you the chance to answer in private. Or she could/should have explained why she needed to know. But she was right to ask. You had a very young baby and codeine is not recommended for breastfeeding mums now.

TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents · 18/02/2017 17:37

Why do they give solpadeine in maternity wards then? Confused

BeaveredBadgered · 18/02/2017 17:43

They will have a stock of co-codamol on the maternity ward as not every mother breast feeds and sometimes a decision is made that the benefits of treatment outweigh the risks associated and a dr will prescribe it. The lowest effective dose should be used and both mother and baby monitored.

LavenderRains · 18/02/2017 17:44

Ive only ever been asked if its for me and have I taken it before, I really don't think they needed to know why you were taking it.

TestingTestingWonTooFree · 18/02/2017 17:56

I don't understand why you were so upset. It wouldn't have been difficult to say "pelvic pain" or "muscular pain". Suppose it's difficult to convey tone on the internet though.

TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents · 18/02/2017 17:57

They just handed it to me without a word, and some other stuff, ponstan? And diclofenac.

I'm learning a lot from this thread!

C8H10N4O2 · 18/02/2017 17:57

I think part of the problem is that people confuse what the law actually says (which is not that much actually) with following the local rules where a business may have over the top questioning and restrictions in lieu of proper training and qualifications for its staff.

That is how it seems to me with some of the jobsworths I've had to deal with where the pharmacy is a bolt on to a business as opposed to the key function of the business. Its also consistent with the 'training' given to youngsters told to cover the pharmacy counter instead of shelf filling.

OneLumpOrSeven · 18/02/2017 18:02

But she was right to ask. You had a very young baby and codeine is not recommended for breastfeeding mums now.

Or for children under 12 now, due to some metabolising it into morphine too quickly.

Stuff like this is why you get asked questions.

expatinscotland · 18/02/2017 18:17

'Expat for sleep aids, travel sickness works like a charm. I've took them in the past for a similar reason.'

Yes, it does. Nowadays, I just buy it at Costco in the US in big ol' bottles and bring it back. Same with ranitidine and melatonin. All the GP will do is send me for those scopes. Now I know for a fact I will need to be knocked out for any of those scopes because of how my daughter died gagging and all the time with her gagging and choking it will do nothing but cause a massive flashback in me and they won't do it (knock me out), so I don't bother. 'Oh, we'll sedate you,' and 2mg of Valium will do nothing for me so again, I don't bother. I also know why I have it.

Before I'd have to beg for sleep aids, Boots is especially good for that. 20 000 questions and 'You need to see your GP.' 'I already have, and a consultant psychiatrist. Either of them have a wand to magic up the dead and wipe out memories of my 9-year-old daughter dying by inches from cancer, blood seeping out of her vent, her eyes covered in gel pads, herself as a corpse I slept with? No? Well until then I have a LOT of trouble sleeping often enough.' Utter silence in the queue then.

Now, alas, no problems this way.

expatinscotland · 18/02/2017 18:19

Just lie! 'I have toothache.' Or send in a man to do the same thing.

Wauden · 18/02/2017 18:51

Scenario.
Pharmacist: How can I help?
Customer: I want to get some codeine please.
P: What is it for?
C: I don't want to tell you.

P: You can tell me in the private room.
C: I don't to tell you in private either.
P: You can write it down on a piece of paper.
C: I don't want to.

P: Then I cannot sell codeine to you.
C: I am going to complain! You are so unfair!!!
P: Confused

Olympiathequeen · 18/02/2017 18:52

No one objects to being given advice. .....do not take if you are breastfeeding. Is the medication for you? Don't take more than 8 in 24 hours etc.

All the safety advice can be given without asking for your diagnosis

The answer could have been .....
......I have had a medical termination and am experiencing cramps....
Or...I have prolapsed haemorrhoids and cocodomol eases the aching pain....

That may be a worse case scenario, but no less intrusive than expecting the OP to divulge her SPD. If it had been part of the specific requirement before giving cocodomol then she could have invited the OP to a private area........ after all she didn't know what the OPs reply was going to be

I'm sure OP didn't look like some desperate rattling drug addict or, better still a 'numpty' who would put head lice ointment on her genitals Hmm

junebirthdaygirl · 18/02/2017 18:52

It is absolute pain ( excuse the pun) and l hate it so much but they have to do it. They are constantly under pressure in case you are a mystery shopper and they would be in trouble. But they go too far especially in Boots. I wanted iron tablets and felt like leaping over the counter and grabbing them she asked me so many questions and was so condescending and horrible. I'm the bloody customer after all so givee some respect. You have my sympathy op

Olympiathequeen · 18/02/2017 18:54

waiden OPs responses were nothing like those. Confused

WetsTheFinger · 18/02/2017 18:57

Eh? It's not like you asked for a tube of canestan and she yelled "HAVE YOU GOT A COTTAGE CHEESE CLUNGE?"
I don't really understand the fuss!