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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:
GahBuggerit · 18/02/2017 14:27

Silver dont worry then as they will be qualified in some way to ask those questions Smile

Sirzy · 18/02/2017 14:28

If the op wanted to discuss it in private all she had to say was "is there somewhere quiet we can go"

Given 99.9% of the population are happy to just say "it's for back pain" or whatever and then finish the transaction to expect to automatically go to a private room for every small thing like this is bonkers and would be massively time consuming.

Jenbob13 · 18/02/2017 14:32

If someone was asking for something for vaginal thrush and the counter assistant was screaming it across the pharmacy that would be cause for concern. But codeine is pretty hot off the press and not usually for sensitive reasons. If someone wants a word in private then of course that is their right to confidentiality but I wouldn't know unless asked I aint Mystic Meg

Olympiathequeen · 18/02/2017 14:32

My understanding of the WWham protocol is if customers are asking for advice on what medication is best for them. Perfectly reasonable to ask symptoms then.

I can't see the justification if they already know what they want and why. The normal warnings...not more than 8 in 24 hours, not with other paracetamol or codeine products, no longer than x days, see dr if symptoms persist etc.

PollyPerky · 18/02/2017 14:34

Fortunately as someone has pointed out the person asking the question will most likely to be qualified since it's a requirement for them to be, so that won't be a problem

I don't think this is or is always the case.

In my local Boots, the assts on the medicines counter are not qualified dispensers. They are just assts doing a shift on the medicines counter. By that I mean the OTC stuff, not the 'behind the pharmacy counter with a pharmacist' beside them and handling scripts.

The simply cannot have all the knowledge of a pharmacist.

The other thing is, I'm reasonably well informed on medical stuff, but don't know what SPD is and I suspect many of them would not.

Sugarlightly · 18/02/2017 14:35

In the interests of accuracy - don't Lloyds now own and run all Sainsbury's pharmacys or has that not happened yet?

Olympiathequeen · 18/02/2017 14:35

Hisstory...... if I was in such pain I could barely walk and I was humiliated in public, which asking your private medical history qualifies for, I would be very furious and complain.

If you'd just had a medical termination for whatever reason and were suffering after pains, would you think it Ok then?

GahBuggerit · 18/02/2017 14:37

Well it sounds like op only got upset when asked why she wanyed the medication, and she could have lowered her voice so the queue ofthousands of nosey bastards craning their necks to hear what ops pain was couldnt hear and said "its for spd"

Grin at the obviously upset post natal special snowflake, a woman who has given birth is a customer, same as everyone else

Sallystyle · 18/02/2017 14:38

I've only ever been asked once what I need it for, and, like the OP, would find that an intrusive question from someone with no qualifications.

Oh, how dare people with no qualifications ask questions. It's not like they are told by those with qualifications what questions to ask when it comes to dispensing certain medications.

When I'm at work tonight I better not ask my patients any questions about how they are feeling, if they are in any pain, is there any change in how they feel etc because I don't have enough qualifications. I am sure the nurse will love me for giving him/her more work to do.

She has absolutely no right to ask you private medical questions. I would complain to the store manager. No bloody right at all. I'd be furious too.

You're joking, right? She has every right to ask the question she asked.

I'm not even in labour and this thread is pissing me off.

BeyondThePage · 18/02/2017 14:38

Taking the poxy tiny amount of codeine in solpadeine is really not going to help ease the pain of a long term pelvic problem (can only sell 3 days worth over the counter) and should be dealt with by a doctor or nurse practitioner who can prescribe something that may work more effectively and quickly and not lead to you needing to take ever higher dosage to get the same relief.

Probably why she asked what it was for. She certainly has to ask what your actual symptoms are as part of the selling procedure.

I am a pharmacy counter assistant doing the National Pharmacy Association, Pharmacy Medicines Counter Assistant Development Programme - a 6 to 12 month on the job training course with externally moderated tests that have an 80% pass mark, this qualification is the minimum requirement for my workplace. (and for many others too)

TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents · 18/02/2017 14:40

Silver dont worry then as they will be qualified in some way to ask those questions

How will teens doing a saturday shift be qualified? Confused They can't be.

OurBlanche · 18/02/2017 14:40

Behave Beyond you know that is irrelevant! Look at how many posters are insisting there is no such requirement! They can't all be wrong, you know!

Sallystyle · 18/02/2017 14:40

The other thing is, I'm reasonably well informed on medical stuff, but don't know what SPD is and I suspect many of them would not.

Then they pop their head around and tell the pharmacist a customer wants this medication for SPD and is that ok? The pharmacist can continue to do whatever they are in the middle of.

ArchNotImpudent · 18/02/2017 14:43

Could you have asked to write it down if you were in earshot of others and there was no private room to use?

PollyPerky · 18/02/2017 14:43

U2- Are you a dr? You mention your 'patients'.

Often the pharmacist isn't there in stores - they take breaks. The assts are supposed to judge how to deal with customers buying OTC meds that are not POM.

Hisstory · 18/02/2017 14:43

It makes you wonder how anyone manages to buy themselves hemeroid (sorry can't spell🤔) cream or incontinence pads.

FitzChivalry · 18/02/2017 14:44

With wwham, people might have started new medicines. E.g. they used Sudafed for colds for years but have started on blood pressure tablets, so if you just sold it them because they've had it before and asked for it by name you would miss that.

Also people come in and ask for things by name on other people's recommendations which if you didn't wwham you would miss that perhaps there is a better product for them or they have a red flag symptom and need to be referred to gp.

Or perhaps they are buying indigestion tablets and you didn't ask them how long theyve had the symptoms what are the symptoms and really they are having a heart attack. But dramatic, but it happens.

Sallystyle · 18/02/2017 14:44

If you'd just had a medical termination for whatever reason and were suffering after pains, would you think it Ok then?

It's always ok to ask why you want certain medication. Always.

If the customer doesn't want to discuss sensitive information with them then they can speak to the GP and ask for a prescription. The pharmacists/ assistants can't not ask just incase it's for something like pain after termination.

GahBuggerit · 18/02/2017 14:44

Cant we?

Wonder how i got my qualification? And the other 2 Saturday 'girls' i worked with?

Hisstory · 18/02/2017 14:45

If you'd just had a medical termination for whatever reason and were suffering after pains, would you think it Ok then?

Yes I would think it ok. In fact I welcome being asked questions about my medical history when I'm in a pharmacy.

PollyPerky · 18/02/2017 14:46

U2 you seem to be very certain on all of this. You a doctor? Do tell! (and if not why mention 'your patients'.)

RedBugMug · 18/02/2017 14:46

yabu
she was doing her job!
if you are breast feeding you shouldn't take codeine as it can badly affect baby.

HelenaGWells · 18/02/2017 14:46

It does annoy me too especially as these people have no medical or pharmacological training so would they actually even know what you were referring too and if that was the appropriator medication otherwise.

Go try and become a pharmacist then tell me they have no medical training ffs. If you look on NHS direct you will notice pharmacy listed as a place you can get help and advice for minor things. Most pharmacies have a small private room if needed for this.

OP I understand honestly I do but It is their Job to ask. I can see why you were upset as you are in pain and vulnerable but they should be asking questions. Pharmacists aren't just there to blindly hand over drugs. They are trained and expected to give advice with regard to medicines like codeine. They should definitely be polite about it though.

They ask to ensure it's the correct medicine as codeine can make certain illnesses worse as well as being addictive and therefore restricted. They should also have asked if you were breastfeeding as codeine is not supposed to be sold to bf mothers.

Certain medicines you can just buy and these would usually be i the supermarket shelves. Anything that is restricted specifically to being bought over the counter at a pharmacy usually comes with basic questions. It's to ensure the safety of patients. If anyone is just buying these things without questions then your pharmacies are failing you.

Shematt · 18/02/2017 14:47

I feel she has crossed the line, if only in attitude. If she'd been apologetic to you, and then said "unfortunately I wouldn't be able to sell it to you then", that's what I would have expected from her. I'm with you, and would complain. I do think they are duty bound to make sure meds are being 'prescribed' for the right illness, but I would expect a PA to be more sensitive about people within earshot, which could be the basis for any complaint. If you'd said "I would only discuss it in private", she would've been forced to either take you 'out the back', and then keep customers waiting, or sell it to you. (I wonder, with the pressure of other's waiting, which she would've chosen?) She's no right to expect you to discuss sensitive health issues in front of others.

Sallystyle · 18/02/2017 14:47

U2- Are you a dr? You mention your 'patients'.

Considering I said I have no qualifications (well, I do but not degree level yet) then obviously not.

However, when I am allocated a bay/side rooms then they are my patients to help look after during that shift. Of course they are not my patients in the same way they are a doctor or nurses.

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