Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think a pregnancy test is an essential item?

135 replies

FluffyKittensinabasket · 15/06/2020 13:24

I popped to the local pharmacy today. There was a sign on the door saying two customers at any one time. So I waited outside.

A pharmacy assistant came to the door.

“You have to wait outside you know, you can’t just barge in!”

I looked at her, a bit confused. “Yep I know, that’s why I’m waiting here.”

She asked me what I wanted. I said a pregnancy test. She took real umbrage to that. “THAT IS NOT AN ESSENTIAL ITEM! You can pick up a prescription or medication ONLY.”

I just looked at her. “Well I would like to see if I’m pregnant or not, please can I buy one or can I speak to the pharmacist?”

“I’ve just told you no. You shouldn’t be trying to conceive at a time like this anyway.”

I walked away at that point, came home and ordered one on Amazon to arrive tomorrow. I am left dumbstruck by this interaction. I was polite, I stood well back from her, I didn’t raise my voice. But it’s okay to be shouted at now? And being told I shouldn’t have a baby? Very bizarre.

OP posts:
Neolara · 15/06/2020 13:25

Yes, that is completely nuts.

mybowelshatepregnancy · 15/06/2020 13:26

I’ve just told you no. You shouldn’t be trying to conceive at a time like this anyway.

She needs some retraining. I'd make a complaint and there's not much I could be bothered making a complaint about.

Billyjoearmstrong · 15/06/2020 13:26

Bloody hell!

Is it a chain or independent? I’d be making a compliant about being spoken to like that. Completely out of order.

Original poster
FluffyKittensinabasket · 15/06/2020 13:27

It’s an independent pharmacy. The only one on my very small local high street..

OP posts:
CaraDune · 15/06/2020 13:27

She's nuts!

I went into the chemist to pick up a bottle of paracetamol suspension for DS. I'd consider a pregnancy test to be far more urgent than this.

Tobebythesea · 15/06/2020 13:28

I’d make an official complaint. That is awful and totally unnecessary.

Allthepinkunicorns · 15/06/2020 13:28

That person is obviously having a bad day and taking it out on you. Off course a pregnancy test is an essential item. I would put in a complaint if I was you.

Billyjoearmstrong · 15/06/2020 13:28

I’d be kicking up a fuss.

I don’t accept being spoken to by anyone like that, let alone a HCP.

CallmeAngelina · 15/06/2020 13:28

I don't think I've ever complained about anything before, but I sure as hell would do for that.

PuntoEBasta · 15/06/2020 13:29

That is ridiculous. For all she knows you could be on medication which would mean that a positive pregnancy test required urgent medical advice. I'd also make a complaint.

L0cked0utL0ck392 · 15/06/2020 13:30

" you shouldn't be trying to conceive"

The how or why is none of this person's business

I would put in a complaint

This person could potentially be saying this to someone vulnerable or to a much younger person

Pukeymama · 15/06/2020 13:30

Please complain. Who the hell does she think she is?!!

ChewChewIsMySpiritAnimal · 15/06/2020 13:31

You're absolutely sure she said you shouldn't be getting pregnant? Hmm

VickyEadieofThigh · 15/06/2020 13:32

Besides all of the above, women have occasionally (sarcasm) become pregnant without "trying to conceive"...

Your circumstances and reasons for requiring a test kit are none of her fucking business and she has no right to comment!

Definite complaint.

TerrapinStation · 15/06/2020 13:32

There's no such thing as an esssential item, the problem here is a crazy shop assistant. Have you contacted the manager? I've worked in retail quite a lot and find it quite hard to believe anyone would act like that.

Russell19 · 15/06/2020 13:33

You need to ring and ask to speak to the owner or pharmacist in charge. That is disgusting behaviour. Could you go to the supermarket for one if you need one today? So sorry you have been treated like that. So we are not allowed in pharmacies to get pregnancy tests but we need to get our kids back to school in the next 2 months.....
The government really needs to sort this out. No wonder people are confused.

gamerchick · 15/06/2020 13:35

Definitely complain. At the very least this person might be majorly stressed about catching this thing and would prefer no customers if they're being forced to work. That's not your problem and doesn't excuse them from doing their job.

Hope you get the answer you want with the test.

GrumpyHoonMain · 15/06/2020 13:36

Our local pharmacy has a sign on the door that because pregnancy tests can be obtained next day from Amazon they will not be stocking them for the foreseable future, then refers to NHS guidance for pregnant women. Perhaps that’s what she meant?

PrivateD00r · 15/06/2020 13:37

Absolutely disgusting treatment op, I am sorry that happened. Good luck, I hope it gives you the answer that you want Flowers

PrivateD00r · 15/06/2020 13:39

@GrumpyHoonMain

Our local pharmacy has a sign on the door that because pregnancy tests can be obtained next day from Amazon they will not be stocking them for the foreseable future, then refers to NHS guidance for pregnant women. Perhaps that’s what she meant?
I am quite shocked at that. Pharmacies are businesses at the end of the day, all the ones round my way seem to rely on sales of perfume/beauty products/ cleaning products etc - they will be screwed if people move all their business to Amazon. Thankfully ours are behaving normally anyway.
ellenpartridge · 15/06/2020 13:39

Outrageous. I definitely would complain. It is an essential item but it's not up to her to police that and if they're selling it you can buy it regardless of whether it is "essential"!

Awful to say you shouldn't TTC - none of her business at all and how does she know whether you're TTC or hoping it's negative?!

Hope the test goes the way you want.

Emmapeeler1 · 15/06/2020 13:39

I thought people were queuing to get into John Lewis today? And anyway I would consider anything a pharmacy sells to be essential.

It's also very inappropriate. Does she honestly expect no babies to have been conceived since 23rd March? What if you needed to know so you could access an abortion? If she really said that to you, write to her manager.

ActuallyItsEugene · 15/06/2020 13:40

OP, that's unbelievable.

Report her. Call and ask to speak to the pharmacist, tell them everything. Did you catch her name?
If you google you may be able to find the name of the owner, try that.

Emmapeeler1 · 15/06/2020 13:42

Our local pharmacy has a sign on the door that because pregnancy tests can be obtained next day from Amazon they will not be stocking them for the foreseable future, then refers to NHS guidance for pregnant women.

I find this quite depressing. Not everyone wishes to shop at Amazon, especially given how they treated staff during this crisis. I find this attitude quite misogynistic too.

MouthBreathingRage · 15/06/2020 13:43

That is very surprising. I've had to take several pregnancy tests recently as I've had two m/c in three months. Medical professionals were unsure if the second was just retained hormones going mad again, as had a couple of negatives followed by several new positive (and back to negative again after another bleed).

I don't usually get mad with customer service workers, but if it had been me in this position I'd have made my feelings (and reasons) very damn clear. It's definitely grounds for complaint, you are entitled to know if you're pregnant and not be lectured like a silly girl about having babies at any time.