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AIBU?

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Original poster

Fuming at Pharmacist

95 replies

Havannah80 · 17/03/2018 12:33

My DD is on medicated milk (on perscription) because she has stomach problems.

And I have just found out that a girl who works at the pharmacy I get it from has told her partner who works with DD father that I get this milk on prescription for DD and that I must be on benefits if I'm getting free milk (clearly looking down at me) it's now gone round my DD fathers work and got back to him which is how I know it's been said!

Now my problem isn't really if she thinks I'm on benefits or not. It's more that I feel there's a breach of confidentiality here?! I don't need people knowing the ins and outs of my life such as what medicine my DD is prescribed!!

AIBU if I ring up the chemist she works at and complain?!

OP posts:
Dungeondragon15 · 17/03/2018 14:07

How has this gone around the office? If someone told me this I don’t think I could even find the inclination to respond, let alone pass it on as if it is juicy gossip

I was wondering why anyone would think this is interesting too!

IvorHughJarrs · 17/03/2018 14:13

If you have proof this is from the woman in the pharmacy then complain, confidentiality is a condition of such jobs
However a pharmacy assistant would know children's prescriptions are all free and not link it with benefits so could it be anyone else? Has someone seen you collect it or could there be another explanation?

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 17/03/2018 14:17

You really should complain - this level of confidentiality breach is really not on. But I agree it should be in writing.

Coconutspongexo · 17/03/2018 14:17

FluffyHippo

AIBU if I ring up the chemist she works at and complain?

You could just get a life instead, you revolting snob.

Is there a brain in that head of yours?

TamaraDrankMyMilk · 17/03/2018 14:25

My son had severe reflux (12 years ago) and his paediatrician suggested we try Enfamil AR but it was only available from the chemist, not on the shelf at the time.

It worked so the paediatrician wrote to our GP to ask if it could be prescribed to our son. They agreed and so we had prescription milk.

Yes all prescriptions for children are free but you need to have the milk prescribed for you. So free milk does seem to suggest benefits but it is absolutely none of the woman's business.

I would definitely report her as a possible breach of confidentiality.

FluffyHippo · 17/03/2018 14:28

Because the OP obviously thinks that being in receipt of free milk is something to be ashamed of.

Orangecake123 · 17/03/2018 14:29

I've worked in a local pharmacy, where I was handling prescriptions of people I knew.

Rule number 1: CONFIDENTIALITY. She should know better.

ChasedByBees · 17/03/2018 14:32

That’s not what she said at all Fluffyhippo. She said that the assistant has implied that she’s on benefits, presumably because the assistant is making a judgement. Your comment was uncalled for.

Coconutspongexo · 17/03/2018 14:33

No I think the OP thinks her financial status shouldn’t be talked about and what she gets on prescription 100% should not be talked about.

Don’t turn this into a debate on class

AlishaMary · 17/03/2018 14:36

@FluffyHippo the OP is concerned about confidentiality not people thinking she claims benefits Confused

from the op Now my problem isn't really if she thinks I'm on benefits or not. It's more that I feel there's a breach of confidentiality here?! I don't need people knowing the ins and outs of my life such as what medicine my DD is prescribed!!

iBiscuit · 17/03/2018 14:37

Hipppo The person who thought this gossip- worthy is the snob (or they think there's some benefit fraud going on). Nothing the OP has said suggests that she looks down on benefit claimants.

HiggeldyPigsinblankets · 17/03/2018 14:37

I would report it as a confidentiality issue, she could leak information that could cause huge issues, ie someone receiving the morning after pill or with mental health issues, not acceptable, in many areas of health care a sackable offence quite rightly to.

Because the OP obviously thinks that being in receipt of free milk is something to be ashamed of.

where do you get that impression from? I see it more as her being, pissed off that someone is gossiping about private a private matter when they have no right or reason to

TomRavenscroft · 17/03/2018 14:40

Fluffy, what a stupid comment.

Now my problem isn't really if she thinks I'm on benefits or not. It's more that I feel there's a breach of confidentiality here?!

Did you fail to read that bit? or just struggle to comprehend it?

FizzyGreenWater · 17/03/2018 14:42

Wow.

If you are sure then PLEASE report it.

She's breaching patient confidentiality. It's really serious - forget the 'it's about milk' bit - she will have signed a confidentiality agreement which she seems to find perfectly ok to ignore and hasn't taken at all seriously. It's a disciplinary offence and so it should be, because someone like this will presumably have no issue with gossiping and passing on information, perhaps more serious, about other people and in so doing, totally undermining patient confidence in their pharmacy.

She deserves the sack - she probably will get a disciplinary instead though.

forgettingnames · 17/03/2018 14:42

Definitely complain in writing.
People not understanding confidentiality in roles such as these is completely unacceptable.
Pharmacy assistants seem to be particularly bad at this. I have had an assistant hand over my prescription in a crowded shop whilst loudly starting what each item was - I had an unusual and very personal condition and it was utterly degrading. Especially as the other customers all turned and looked at me. I complained.
I have also had an assistant refuse to put my (embarrassing) item in a bag when I asked, replying that she would do it when 'she was ready'!
I think some pharmacies don't train their staff in this issue, so definitely complain.

OldHag1 · 17/03/2018 14:47

It wouldn’t matter if you were on benefits or not as all children’s prescriptions are free.

Definitely a written complaint to the Znanager/owner

Allthewaves · 17/03/2018 14:52

I would tread carefully - are you completely sure that your partner has never mentioned at work that your dc is on prescription milk? Do you have proof it was definitely her? Have you talked to anyone about dc presciption milk? You need to think carefully if you have done any of the above. If she's a pharmacy assistant she will know it's specialised milk on presciption and the likely reason you dc is getting it so logically it would make no sense to say your on benefits with this knowledge.

Lithiumsmummy · 17/03/2018 14:59

You said you have just been told the girl at the Pharmacy told whoever, whatever. This is hearsay. Won't stand up in court, I should imagine any letter of complaint would be treated very suspiciously. Who told you? Why did they tell you? Someone is stirring the pot & to be truthful, it is downright ridiculous. There are no FACTS involved here, just Chinese whispers. Unless the girl herself, or, the Pharmacist told you, grab some salt. I would be more suspicious of the person who told you who is stirring. Just because your ex heard a rumour does not make it FACT, have you ever played Chinese whispers? Rise above it & move on.

Bugjune · 17/03/2018 15:00

Does FluffyHippo work in a pharmacy...?

Witchend · 17/03/2018 15:11

I would have thought it's more likely the conversation was more along the lines of:
Your ex: dd gets her milk on prescription
Other colleague: I didn't know you could get that.
Accused colleague: Oh my gf works at a pharmacist, people get free milk if they're on benefits

So whereas you're taking it personally, it was a general conversation,.

Dungeondragon15 · 17/03/2018 16:07

I'm really sceptical that anyone would be interested in OP's baby's milk prescription (apart from OP of course). Considering all the information you are privy to if you work in a chemist's shop, milk is not exactly up there. I can't believe everyone in OP's babies father's office would care less either. Surely their lives aren't that boring. I think someone is winding you up OP.

Original poster
havannah80 · 17/03/2018 16:17

The girl (she's a very young woman - no offence was intended by calling her that) is actually in training to be a pharmacist so she isn't just someone who works on the tills. I've decided I'm not going to name anyone but simply write a letter just to make them aware they need to imply confidentiality acts better with their staff and then speak to my doctors and change where I pick the medication up from.

Fluffyhippo
Not that I have to defend myself to you but I'm not being snobby at all in fact I do get benefits that top up my wages but why is that anyone's business to talk about and make assumptions on either way?

Tamaradrankmymilk
Daughters milk is also for severe reflux I get Gaviscon and ranitidine aswell which is why I don't understand where the links to benefits and the milk has come from as its clearly for a medical reason.

OP posts:
Dungeondragon15 · 17/03/2018 16:22

The girl (she's a very young woman - no offence was intended by calling her that) is actually in training to be a pharmacist so she isn't just someone who works on the tills. I've decided I'm not going to name anyone but simply write a letter just to make them aware they need to imply confidentiality acts better with their staff and then speak to my doctors and change where I pick the medication up from.

I really don't believe it then. If you mean "training to be a pharmacist" I presume you are talking about someone who has completed a four year pharmacy degree and who is doing their preregistration year. They would be aware of that fact that receiving milk on prescription is nothing to do with benefits and they would also know about their duty regarding confidentiality.

CompleteAisling · 17/03/2018 16:23

she can't be that young if she is training to be a pharmacist!

Original poster
havannah80 · 17/03/2018 16:24

Dungeondragon15 I worry that there lives actually are that boring because I can't see why it's so interesting to other people either Hmm

OP posts:
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