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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 14:47

Polly IIRC assistants cannot sell p ony meds if the pharmacist is off site

TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents · 18/02/2017 14:47

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

Do you really ask questions of people buying indigestion tablets? You can buy them in Tesco, no?

Sallystyle · 18/02/2017 14:48

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

Yes, as certain as other people are that it is fine for them to ask those questions, qualified or not and that the woman done nothing wrong.

Olympiathequeen · 18/02/2017 14:49

U2. Show me where it says that a pharmacist or their assistant can demand to know what someone's medical diagnosis is? They can give warnings and advice on safety, they can't demand a diagnosis

MTB1003 · 18/02/2017 14:50

Op if you are upset at this situation, then you have to take sole responsibility for it because it was you that turned it into an issue. A brief I have spd would have been sufficient. She is doing her job. As you said, you came in with a new baby and was feeling emotional, all the more reason to ask you. Leaving it and walking away like you did was very childish. And now you have to make another effort of finding it elsewhere.

FitzChivalry · 18/02/2017 14:50

Winter, if they are buying a 'p' pack of ranitidine then the questions should be asked. If it's a p it should be wwhammed

Slimmingsnake · 18/02/2017 14:52

I've had the same in sainsburys and boots,trying to buy caneston from a male assistant asking me a shit load of questions with a que behinned me sniggering...and boots where the man next to me waiting to be served heard all about my ibs...it's fucking rude and there should be space at the till for us to speek in confidence with out people being near enough to hear

Sallystyle · 18/02/2017 14:53

Of course they can't demand to know what is wrong with someone.

They are perfectly within their rights to not sell certain medications if someone doesn't tell them what it is for.

TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents · 18/02/2017 14:53

I see, I think. Thanks.

GahBuggerit · 18/02/2017 14:53

fOlympia tbf they ask, not demand, the customer can choose whether to share or not but risk not getting the meds they want.

i cant recall if it is simply best practice to ask, but it was policy to ask in my old job, and a disciplinary offence for not doing so.

HelenaGWells · 18/02/2017 14:56

Just because someone is on a till doesn't mean it's just an assistant. Sometimes it's a pharmacist pulling double duty to shorten a queue or cover a break.

The rules over a lot of drugs have changed recently. My DH is on tramadol. The amount of hassle it is to get his script now compared to even a year ago is insane. We just used to
Pick it up. Now I have to go pick up a physical script (they won't send tramodol electronically) and sign it out of the doctors. I then have to sign it in at the pharmacy then sign again (extra signature compared to the normal sign here to say you pay/scripts are free) to get the stuff.

GahBuggerit · 18/02/2017 14:56

and yes re zantac - had a guy buy try to buy 2 packs within a month, had to refuse as indigestion for that long that isnt being helped with otc needs doctor referral

Olympiathequeen · 18/02/2017 14:57

Gah. If effect the assistant did demand, because she refused to sell the OP the medication. As in.... you will tell me or no pain relief!

Ditto to U2. You will give me the information or I will not serve you...... you don't have to have the reason to serve someone safely. You give them the standard advice. So in effect, demanding private information.

Olympiathequeen · 18/02/2017 14:58

So it's ok to hold someone to ransom?

PollyPerky · 18/02/2017 15:03

U2 I think calling the people who are in your care 'your patients' when you are neither a nurse nor doctor is giving the wrong impression. I don't know what you do, but assume it's either admin or a carer role.

Also, the example you gave of 'not being able to ask your patients how they were feeling' is completely different from asking someone in earshot of the general public the specific nature of their illness.

Chelazla · 18/02/2017 15:04

Glitter this made me howl!!
"By the Power of Grayskull...I Have the Power!" said He-man and She-ra during their Saturday jobs at their local supermarket.
"By the Power of Grayskull...I Have the Power!" said He-man and She-ra during their Saturday jobs at their local supermarket.
Bit precious op she was only doing her job!

Gwenhwyfar · 18/02/2017 15:04

""where are you going to use it?" And then every time I am told never to use is on my face. These questions does not bother me at all."

But if you were using it on your genitals it might bother you to have to say that in front of everyone.

GahBuggerit · 18/02/2017 15:05

and the customer can choose or not to share that information.

and if its policy/the requirements of the job then yes, they do need to know the reason so, to use my example, they arent selling some numpty headlice treatment to use on their bollocks

Alisvolatpropiis · 18/02/2017 15:07

My exh used solpadeine for an on going dental issue. Pharmacists would always ask me if it was for me (no) and then why my exh needed it. I'd tell them and they'd hand it over. I assume they asked him too.

It is an addictive substance though, his mother was addicted to it for about 25 years.

Gwenhwyfar · 18/02/2017 15:07

"had a guy buy try to buy 2 packs within a month, had to refuse as indigestion for that long that isnt being helped with otc needs doctor referral"

I would be furious if a pharmacist did that to me because I can't get a dr's appointment at all. If you're going to do that, make sure you can guarantee them an appointment.

PollyPerky · 18/02/2017 15:07

Helena In major stores and chains, assts usually wear badges saying what they are: dispenser, pharmacist, trainee pharmacist etc.
Also- for another poster- POM can't be sold with a pharmacist giving the 'ok' which in reality often means the asst waves it at the pharmacist, having already asked the customer some questions.

The whole thing is a mess really because you can buy treatments for thrush in supermarkets and pop them in your trolley, but in Boots it's behind the counter and you have to answer questions when buying it, some of which are quite personal. There isn't any uniformity.

expatinscotland · 18/02/2017 15:10

'and yes re zantac - had a guy buy try to buy 2 packs within a month, had to refuse as indigestion for that long that isnt being helped with otc needs doctor referral'

Then he just goes to another chemist to get it. I buy it OTC in the US by the bottle full and bring it back in different cases so I don't have to deal with shit like this. Been taking it for over 11 years and still here.

GahBuggerit · 18/02/2017 15:10

Dont be silly no one can guarantee anyone a dr appointment.

be furious all you like, it was a condition of my employment that i followed the formal training i received

TheWinterOfOurDiscountTents · 18/02/2017 15:13

That doesn't seem to make much sense: I'm not going to sell you something you need as you need to see a dr except you can't see a dr, so you can just stay in pain or discomfort.
Or he just walks across the road to another pharmacy and buys it there.
Struggling to see the point, really.

GahBuggerit · 18/02/2017 15:13

I expect youre right expat about him going elsewhere. nothing can be done about that.