Furious with pharmacist

[Pleeby]

Queuing to collect my prescription. One lady already waiting and a school mum behind me.

Pharmacist comes out and calls my name, I said yes that’s me she then calls “are you waiting for your sertraline”. No discretion at all.

I said to her “I’m sorry did you just call my actual prescription out in front of everyone” she just kind of shrugged and said yeah sorry is that what you’re waiting for though?

What the actual fuck? This must be a breach of some kind of confidentially?

Bang out of order, and you should definitely complain. I am pretty sure that a friend had her house broken into because someone overheard her address and the fact that her script was for morphine. I wish they didn't ask, unless you have an extremely common name.

I have to say it wouldn't bother me. Absolutely bollocks all to be embarrassed about. But I can see it it would bother someone it's horrendous.

She shouldnt have said that, I hate it when you buy otc tablets and the staff ask you what you want them for, where is your pain, have you seen the doctor, they can ask but not at full volume in front of other people.

It wouldn't bother me - nothing to be ashamed of - but they absolutely shouldn't be shouting out anyone's prescription.

At my pharmacy they ask "if it's just the one item" (or however many) and then they get you to check the label on the bag.

therocinante Mine also do that, and then they check if DC's medicine is something they've had before.

The pharmacist in the Op's situation was really out of order. I hope she complains.

It's bad enough having to shout your address at them in front of everyone else, never mind your medications! I mean, I don't give a shiny shit, I tell everyone I meet about how the drugs for my brain have made me so much better, but still.

Our pharmacist always calls people over and points/talks quietly, though maybe that's not allowed now?

I mean, is there really a problem with people impersonating others in order to steal random medications?

That's a confidentiality breach, complain and hopefully she'll get a talking to.

I understand the feeling of being ashamed, but only a cruel and small minded person would think anything malicious. Says more about them than it does you.

My DD once needed the morning after pill and the receptionist at the GP, in front of a waiting room full of people, shouted back to her colleague "Jane, can you get the script for emergency contraception?" and 'Jane' stuck her head round and went "Bloody hell, how old are you?" to DD. She called me after, a bit teary, but laughing at the reaction of the older people sat watching.

Sorry this happened to me too op I now get all medicines delivered to home address as no privacy when getting it incl the asking address etc people are nosey

I’m glad I live in a large city. I don’t have an issue calling my address out as it’s doubtful anyone there knows where exactly it is (or cares) and if I am discussing a health issue, I’ll never see anyone overhearing again

That’s shit. Sorry OP. Please make a complaint, no excuse for her manner.

That is definitely against company policy, please report the pharmacist.

To those who are wondering about why name and address are asked; its to confirm the identification of the patient whose medication is being picked up. We have several patients of the same name, so its very important that the medication is given to the correct person. We have several checking stages when handing out medications to reduce the chance of handing out the wrong medication. Its about patient safety.

I was waiting in the pharmacy recently when the assistant loudly told the bloke in front of me she had to just check with the pharmacist about his chlamydia prescription!

Completely out of order, you should definitely complain

@CallmeHendricks

I was waiting in the pharmacy recently when the assistant loudly told the bloke in front of me she had to just check with the pharmacist about his chlamydia prescription!

Head needs to roll!

Pharmacist did exactly the same sort of thing to the person in front of me today. Not sertraline but something else I'm pretty sure she didn't want yelled across the room. I felt for her!

Utterly appalling, unprofessional behaviour. I would complain.

The first time I got a note home from school saying there was case of nits in my kid's class I went to the pharmacist and stocked up on a few things (nit comb, lice prevention spray, medicine in case they did end up with it). The pharmacist said in a REALLY loud voice "have you got an infestation!" FFS

Confirming your address is hardly unusual- click and collect, medical appointments, bookings, it’s just a way of double checking. Lots of people have the same or similar names and we don’t have ID cards in this country.

@Pleeby definitely complain

@Frlrlrubert unfortunately, yes! People would be keen to try to get their pals methadone prescription or painkiller prescription

@SakuraEdenSwan1

Why are you embarrassed about taking it?

It's not a case of being embarrassed about it, just that one doesn't want the world and its mother to know. It's none of their bloody business.

My mum was telling me today how they couldn’t find my dad’s prescription at the chemist yesterday and were querying whether they had already picked it up as the script was no longer there. My mum eventually persuaded them that they hadn’t and they issued a new one. Today a stranger brought the missing paperwork to my parents’ house as they had found it stapled to their own prescription. From my dad’s medication it would be easy to realise he has Alzheimer’s and coupled with his name, address and date of birth he could have been left very vulnerable.

Ours always says "just the one item then?" Or whatever numbers of items.

Then they say "can you confirm the address" which you could easily do flashing a drivers licence if you weren't comfy saying it.

Sounds out of order to me

I was one of a few people waiting in the pharmacy a few years ago while the pharmacist explained loudly to the person at the front how to insert a suppository. They shouldn't have shouted out your prescription, but as a PP said, most people probably don't know anything about it.

Whether the OP is embarrassed or not by the medication she is taking is completely irrelevant. (There is absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about taking anti depressants)
The issue here is that the pharmacist was completely unprofessional and unethical.
You need to complain to Boots, and also ask for the registration number for the pharmacist. Pharmacists are registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council and have to adhere to their standards. This is renewed every year. I would also report your concerns to the GPhC.

I would complain to Boots - they need to train their staff not to do that, it's unnecessary and rather lazy.

Different situation but at a GP the doctor asked me whether or not I was on the pill in a crowded room. He instantly dropped down to a very low voice so no one else would have heard. It would have been far easier for him to ask loudly and clearly as this person did but he made the effort not to.