Woman on the Sainsbury's pharmacy counter

[SoggyBottomBoys]

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.

Who says Zantac (ranitidine doesn't help indigestion long term? That's rubbish. I think what the poster means is the questions asked about this are because stomach cancer etc can sometimes be overlooked and people think they only have indigestion. Zantac can be used long term if it's the right treatment. This applies to lots of medicine- people need to be cure they are diagnosing themselves correctly. My dear late GM died from stomach cancer having been sure she had 'indigestion' for decades, and didn't want to bother a dr.

polly there uniformity. The same medicines that are out on the shelf in a supermarket are also out on the shelf on the shop floor in boots. Their legal category is GSL medicines. Those which are P medicines will always be kept behind the pharmacy counter, whether at boots or a supermarket and those which are POM are only accessible by prescription.

jen best of luck! Let us know when your froggy legged cuddly newborn has arrived!

Haven't RTFT OP bur have you seen pelvicpartnership.org.uk for help and advice on spd? It is treatable.

There is uniformity*

... POM cannot be sold to anyone - it is Prescription Only Medication - P medication (has a capital P in a box on the packaging) can only be sold with a pharmacist present - includes stuff like a box of 32 paracetamol.

Pain or discomfort that clearly wasnt being helped by a, usually extremely effective medicine for indigestion.

if i made him think about going to see a doc to rule anything more sinister out then great. mif he walked down the road to another chemist fine. i followed what i was told to do as a condition of employment. happy days all round.

"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"

So you are happy to deny someone the medication they need on the basis that they should see a doctor, even if you know they cannot get a doctor's appointment and will therefore just have to go without. I don't see how that can be professional.

Was she actually a pharmacist or simply a regular store assistant? If the latter she isn't qualified to ask or advise, she might reasonably ask you to chat to the pharmacist first but to ask you about your medical conditions in public bad whether she is qualified or not.

Solpadeine in the over the counter form does not require the pharmacist to give you the third degree. I would expect a good pharmacist to ask if you have used it before, if you are aware of the side effects or any interactive effects and to do so quietly with the clear option of a private conversation.

I have to take a number of restricted drugs on prescription for chronic conditions - every now and again I make the mistake of getting the prescription filled at the supermarket. Every time an unqualified assistant asks me what they are for and why I need them. My answer is 'because the doctor prescribed them, if you have a concern point me at the qualified pharmacist'.

"if i made him think about going to see a doc to rule anything more sinister out then great"

And if he can't get a doctor's appointment? You just don't care. You sound heartless and not professional. I hope the doctor situation is better where you live than it is where I am.

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.

It's just an easier way of saying 'the patients I'm allocated to help care for' to be honest. I didn't mean to give the wrong impression. I can see how it would though.

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.

Can you buy thrush tablets in supermarkets? I didn't think they sold them in the supermarket, only OTC.

What is embarrassing about answering pelvic pain?

Apparently tablets containing paracetamol and codeine are used by drug addicts - they try to extract the codeine from them.

If the person needs the medicine regularly they should be monitored by their gp and medicine is normally on repeat.
If they are not and the person is self diagnosing and self medicaticating, that is where the problems lies. I am not talking about one offs, irregular purchases or problems, or if they haven't ordered the repeat in time.

Op I totally sympathise with you. I hope you managed to get some pain relief elsewhere. I have the same issue with getting oral tablet for thrush. They will not sell it to women over 60. I buy it online and lie about my age. Our body, our choice. Big Brother and his minions can do one!

OP you have my sympathy because ten years after having my first child I STILL have SPD. However you are wrong on this - she was not being unreasonable.

Next time ask to the speak to a pharmacist not a pharmacy assistant. They will be able to give you better advice, you'll have more confidence in them and probably be more tactful, but it IS entirely normal to be asked the purpose of buying controlled drugs.

Drug seekers will often target supermarkets at the weekend as less experienced staff work during these times often, so they have it drummed into them that they must stubbornly follow the rules.

My advice to you would be to get the drugs you need prescribed by a doctor because you need supervision if your SPD is really bad and ask to be referred to a proper physio service NOW rather than later.

Fitz - some people can't get a GP appointment. If pharmacists refuse to help, people will have to resort to online ordering like user above with no overseeing at all.

I wondered that too Nanna!

I wouldn't mind a pharmacist asking me, but woman on the counter?no, especially not like that-there are better more subtle ways of asking.

they will be qualified in some way to ask those questions In shangri la possibly. One of my kids who worked part time in local supermarket was regularly put on the pharmacy counter. She had no training beyond a list of questions to ask, she was in no way qualified to answer any of them.

Regarding the idea that the assistants have no interest in your condition - mostly probably yes, however my mother and most of the locals avoid the nearest supermarket dispensary as the regular non qualified assistant is the biggest gossip in the village. To be fair this isn't the norm but IME problems arise far more often at supermarket pharmacy counters than specialist pharmacies.

Oh turn it in Gwen, if im told i couldnt sell something then i couldnt sell it. if im told to refer someone to their doctor in certain circumstances then i did.

as i say i once probably saved someones life by flagging up a deadly medication combo that a locum doc missed. and often took elderly customers prescriptions to them in my own time and helped them out a bit and played cards etc with a few of my faves but yea, im a heartless cunt me.

Ah the Solpadeine Max Police. I too have had low moments where I have wanted to reply "just give me the fecking drugs". Hope you feel better soon x

You will give me the information or I will not serve you..

I am not allowed to sell you this unless I ascertain that it is appropriate.
If I sell you it without asking I could risk losing my job.

That's better.

Someone may have already said this. When the pharmacist asks me this I just scowl and say very stroppily 'I don't want to discuss my medical issues in public. I'll write it down. Get me A pen and paper (pause) please.'

soggy fair enough about the question I didn't list. Its one I am occasionally asked but not every time I buy them (they are cheaper OTC than on prescription).

I always say 'hypermobility'. which is true some of the time but not when I am getting them for gynae issues. I don't want to discuss that with anyone and I don't consider that precious of me.

I don't know what they would say if I offered 'nosebleeds' but I suspect they would put me straight . I suppose they ask in case you are buying them for headaches as they can cause rebound headaches because I doubt anyone is going to own up to 'for the buzz mate' are they?

I don't know if Solpadine is the no1 seller but it wouldn't surprise me. Nureofen bought out a neat little pill case to pop your codeine based tablets in and an slick advert to go with it. WTF was that about if it wasn't trying to normalise taking them every day?

I appreciate it's hard to get an appointment. Some people would carry on forever and not want to bother the doctor. There has to be a cut off point. And that point is most often decided by the manufacturer and MHRA. From the zantac patient information leaflet
'How to take Zantac 75 Relief

Adults and children aged 16 years and over:

Swallow 1 tablet, with a drink of water, as soon as you have symptoms.

If symptoms persist for more than one hour, take another tablet.

Do not take more than 2 tablets in 24 hours.
Do not use for more than 6 days.
Do not buy a second packet of tablets without speaking to your doctor or pharmacist.
Do not take more than the recommended dose.'

So no more than 6 days use unless you get it through the gp.

If a person chooses to buy online, only buy from registered pharmacies due to risk of counterfeit drugs. There will be a questionnaire and overseeing.
If said person lies about their age or other matters then that lies solely on them.