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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Furious with pharmacist

227 replies

Pleeby · 20/04/2021 18:31

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?

OP posts:
partyatthepalace · 20/04/2021 19:46

Yep - do put in a formal complaint to HQ.

That’s unbelievable.

AnotherCupOfTeaVicar · 20/04/2021 19:46

@Pepperminttea16

Probably shouldn’t have done it. Can’t go back and have her undo it. No point complaining and getting someone in trouble. Who here hasn’t made a small mistake at work? Let it go
Probably shouldn't have done it? Are you serious? Of course they should complain to prevent it happening again. It's part of their bloody training, you know confidentiality 🙄
CoffeeRunner · 20/04/2021 19:46

Consultations.

MixedUpFiles · 20/04/2021 19:47

If she really needed to call out she could say, are you waiting for your prescription “that starts with an S”.

CreatedANewName · 20/04/2021 19:55

@Pleeby just be sure it was the pharmacist and not dispensing asst before you complain. Are you sure it was the pharm? it's often hard to tell unless you see their name badge or know them.
I agree you ought to complain. They don't need to call out your items by name. They DO need to ask for the address so they are sure it's the right med for the right person. Imagine if they had 6 men called Joe Brown....

If you complain it may be best to do it to head office, in writing with the time, branch, date and so on. This is because in Boots, the manager and the pharmacist are often the same person.

Oneeyeopen · 20/04/2021 19:55

Not long after dsis had split up with dbil she went to pick up her prescription and had teen dn in tow.
The assistant declared loudly that there was nothing to pay for the contraceptive pill.
Dn was very upset with dsis as she knew her df had had a vasectomy.
Dsis had assumed she would be given her prescription in a bag without any reference to the contents.

YellowTwinklyStar · 20/04/2021 19:58

Oneeyeopen she could have been on the pill for acne or to help manage her periods though.

Tubs11 · 20/04/2021 20:01

if it helps i have no idea what that med is and I tend to zone out when in the pharmacy so most likely others do too and aren't actively listening to what your prescription is

Oneeyeopen · 20/04/2021 20:02

@YellowTwinklyStar true.
Dn was obviously very upset about her parents separation and my dsis had left her dh.

Jent13c · 20/04/2021 20:03

@Pepperminttea16 its a fairly important part of her job to get wrong and if she is reported and has the chance to reflect upon it she's less likely to do it again. In healthcare the main teaching us not to hide mistakes but reflect upon them and have them reported for accountability. Its unlikely she would lose her job but the fact she shrugged when the customer was CLEARLY offended rather than immediately take her aside an apologise suggests she doesn't think she has done anything wrong so why wouldn't she do it again and how will she learn from the interaction.

Please complain to Boots, I'm pretty sure that's the kind of thing they will take seriously. In future if you are ever having a problem should be a sign up saying who the responsible pharmacist is that day. If your complaint is not about them then you can ask to speak to them as they are responsible for the pharmacy or if it is about them you can get their full name and registration number.

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 20/04/2021 20:05

@pleeby

Can’t imagine they would holler at a man “you waiting for your viagra?”!!

Yes!
I can see a man now barging through the queue, pushing old ladies out of the way and treading on small children, saying
"Yes, Yes, that's mine.
Give it to me..."

MummyJ12 · 20/04/2021 20:05

@TANOWAY

People jumping in to tell the OP she has no right to be embarrassed by the type of medication she's taking is exactly the reason why we have a right to privacy in the first place.
I don’t think anyone has posted on here that the OP has no right to be embarrassed by the type of medication she’s taking?! Only that she has nothing to be embarrassed about, which is completely different. Many of us are reassuring the OP but also pointing out that it is irrelevant as to whether the OP was embarrassed or not, it shouldn’t have happened. I’d have been just as shocked if it had have happened to me with my Ramipril prescription. I agree with you about the right to privacy.
Nomorepies · 20/04/2021 20:06

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ on the poster's request

mooonstone · 20/04/2021 20:06

I also complained to boots about similar actually. I started taking iron tablets and was dealing with constipation/diarrhoea/weird poo, asked the pharmacist if there was anything I could do to alleviate this. There was a crowd nearby. He proceeded to ask me to repeat what was wrong, repeated what I said loudly and then gave me zero advice after announcing to everyone that they were giving me the shits lol

He just said it happens and shrugged

The store manager actually replied to my email profusely apologising and offering for their usual pharmacist to call me if I still needed help. They definitely took it very seriously. The other pharmacist was really nice and gave a lot of wonderful advice on how to take them etc and different products so I dunno why the man was acting like I was an alien

Mumteedum · 20/04/2021 20:08

😁😬

oakleaffy · 20/04/2021 20:18

I was in an independent pharmacy the other day, and a chap came in with a ''Private prescription''.....The pharmacist said ''We haven't got Viagra in stock, but can do the generic for £14

The poor man looked mortified. I was looking at my phone, and pretended not to hear, but I felt for the guy,

He said he'd wait for the 'Proper one' and walked out.
I'd be cross, too.

oakleaffy · 20/04/2021 20:20

If anyone has seen the old blog
Pills, thrills and methadone spills

It is worth having a look at.
I laughed out loud in places.

It is by a Pharmacist.

BathshebaKnickerStickers · 20/04/2021 20:23

Surely that’s why the generic term “medication” exists...

Mrs Ponsonby, are you waiting for your medication..?

ThewaterlilliesofGiverny · 20/04/2021 20:27

It’s a shame Boots are so ubiquitous, as this sort of thing has happened to me more than a few times, but if they are the only pharmacy for miles you have to use them.

Suzi888 · 20/04/2021 20:29

@FireflyRainbow

I always find it weird when they ask your full name and address infront of everyone.
Me too. I’d be pretty annoyed, I’ve never heard anyone’s actual meds being called out. Hmm
GreenSlide · 20/04/2021 20:33

Rules of the chemist is everyone who is in there at the same time is privy to the details of your medication. It was ever thus Grin

ShagMeRiggins · 20/04/2021 20:36

@FireflyRainbow

I always find it weird when they ask your full name and address infront of everyone.
Yup. I’ve never liked that at all. Absolutely the only industry I can think of where that’s “normal.”

There must be a better way to verify an important purchase than to ask all and sundry to broadcast address.

GreenSlide · 20/04/2021 20:36

@MixedUpFiles

If she really needed to call out she could say, are you waiting for your prescription “that starts with an S”.
Then what if OP ends up with solpadeine instead of sertraline and complains about that instead 🤔
Neonprint · 20/04/2021 20:41

Completely unacceptable. Complain to the general pharmaceutical council. Anyone saying theis is fine is just being a typical mumsnet pain the arse, the type who loves to be contrary. It breeches confidentiality so is not ok.

Inastatus · 20/04/2021 20:41

Definitely YANBU OP, that is really not on!