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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Should I report my concerns over suspected stolen medication?

66 replies

EW1995 · 30/05/2021 20:07

I am pretty convinced my ex MIL used to steal other patients medications from work - she manages medications in a care home - because when I used to live with her I would often find bottles of medication with other peoples names on it in her bedroom and I can’t imagine where else she would have got them from.

That was years ago and I was fairly young at the time (teenager) and quite naive so didn’t take it any further.

Fast forward a few years and she works in a new place now, ex has mentioned a couple of times that his mum has given him quite strong medication for different things - she doesn’t have the ability to prescribe medication, I don’t think this is medication she would have been prescribed herself and he didn’t get it from the doctor - so I am starting to suspect that she could possibly still be taking other peoples medications and then giving them to friends and family for ailments without knowing if the medication is correct for them or not.

WIBU to report my concerns to her work place anonymously or should I just keep out of it?

We don’t have a relationship and it doesn’t bother me if she was to find out it was me as it wouldn’t have any repercussions for me personally

OP posts:
threeteenstaximum · 30/05/2021 20:39

Ok have re read and realised it is ex MIL so you don't have access to check

You can report to cqc anonymously, that you have been informed Ms X (ex mil's) has tablets in her house with other peoples names on that she gives to her own family and you are concerned she is potentially taking it from residents in her work at X place

I wouldn't tell them who I was or my name if you plan to report it

They will investigate and be hyper aware from that point onwards

It's quite nuclear to report without being sure, but it's help to casually ask ex what she gave him so you know what tablets they were- as they can check whether she or he were prescribed it Or what old or new meds are missing from work.

But Are you absolutely sure??
There's very careful monitoring of medications these days - unused ones need to be returned to pharmacy

CarrotVan · 30/05/2021 20:40

I’m so very, very sorry for the totally uncalled for personal attack...

But seriously you’re wrong on this.

Original poster
EW1995 · 30/05/2021 20:43

That’s a really good way of reporting it actually - that way it’s just sharing POSSIBLE concerns without making outright accusations and kept anonymous whilst being checked out, hopefully I am wrong, but if I’m not then hopefully it will put an end to her messing around with other peoples medications and handing them out like sweets to other people...

OP posts:
SmokeyDevil · 30/05/2021 20:44

@threeteenstaximum

Ok have re read and realised it is ex MIL so you don't have access to check

You can report to cqc anonymously, that you have been informed Ms X (ex mil's) has tablets in her house with other peoples names on that she gives to her own family and you are concerned she is potentially taking it from residents in her work at X place

I wouldn't tell them who I was or my name if you plan to report it

They will investigate and be hyper aware from that point onwards

It's quite nuclear to report without being sure, but it's help to casually ask ex what she gave him so you know what tablets they were- as they can check whether she or he were prescribed it Or what old or new meds are missing from work.

But Are you absolutely sure??
There's very careful monitoring of medications these days - unused ones need to be returned to pharmacy

I wouldn't just assume that there are careful guidelines in place in every care home or hospital regarding drugs to be honest. Can't obviously go into detail, but it's not unheard of for patients to not receive their full dosage in some places and it not getting noticed for months if not years. But that's what the cqc is for, to investigate such matters.
atracurious · 30/05/2021 20:46

Please please report this. Handling controlled drugs incorrectly is so serious and those poor patients probably aren't going to get their usual meds.

Moondust001 · 30/05/2021 20:47

Sorry, but even if someone handles drugs alone, it is exceptionally difficult to cover up missing drugs, especially if you are suggesting she steals the drug containers - that suggests she's taking all their drugs, not the odd pill. And you don't care if she finds out it's you who reported her because you have no relationship... but she does a lot for your child which sounds like a relationship. Sorry, none of this sounds credible.

Original poster
EW1995 · 30/05/2021 20:50

It was whole bottles with the name and prescription on the front, I don’t care if she knows it was me because it wouldn’t breakdown our relationship as such, but yes she still is my child’s grandmother so I wouldn’t lie about it or do it to punish her in anyway, it’s out of genuine concern that she’s giving it to family members - could she potentially give my child something when I’m not around?

OP posts:
Original poster
EW1995 · 30/05/2021 20:51

She can be a grandmother without having a relationship with me

OP posts:
InFiveMins · 30/05/2021 20:53

You have zero evidence, OP Confused

Are you sure you aren't doing this just because you dislike your ex MIL?

Original poster
EW1995 · 30/05/2021 20:55

I don’t particularly dislike her - I just no longer have a relationship as such with her due to me and ex partner moving on and if ex hadn’t of said a few times now about the medication I wouldn’t have thought anything of it

OP posts:
osbertthesyrianhamster · 30/05/2021 20:56

You have no evidence! Just 'my ex said'.

fearfulfran · 30/05/2021 20:56

Yeah I'd be worried this handing out of ta let's will extend to your children at some point. Are they old enough to have a chat about how dangerous it is to take unpresceibed medicines?

Original poster
EW1995 · 30/05/2021 20:56

And no not proof as such, but seeing the medication myself and being told she gives family members a variety of strong restricted medication - it wouldn’t do any harm to just raise a concern? To make sure that those poor people aren’t being denied of any medication and she’s not abusing her position and power?

OP posts:
Original poster
EW1995 · 30/05/2021 20:57

No children are still quite young so wouldn’t be able to tell me if they had been given any medication either...

OP posts:
Original poster
EW1995 · 30/05/2021 20:58

Child is still quite young** sorry auto typed

OP posts:
osbertthesyrianhamster · 30/05/2021 20:59

You've decided already that she's guilty. So what did you want starting this thread, your ego stroked and your belly rubbed?

You have hearsay and past 'she said v. she said'.

Original poster
EW1995 · 30/05/2021 21:01

I know that she is guilty of in the past having various of random peoples medication in her house yes, I know that she is guilty of giving unprescribed medication to other people yes, however I would raise a concern to find out exactly where these came from and if she is committing a crime or not

OP posts:
Original poster
EW1995 · 30/05/2021 21:02

Or whether there is another innocent explanation

OP posts:
LomasLongstriderJnr · 30/05/2021 21:06

I think you're right to be concerned, I would report this so there can be an investigation of some sort.

Throckmorton · 30/05/2021 21:19

I would absolutely report this - she could kill someone. Also she could leave someone suffering due to not having their proper medication.

Streamside · 30/05/2021 21:29

Any adult should know not to take medication from her.She's misguided in thinking she's helping them and they're reinforcing it. She's very likely to be arrested and charged if she's found to have these drugs in her possession. Are there any other interventions from her family which could be made first.

TurquoiseDragon · 30/05/2021 22:01

@InFiveMins

You have zero evidence, OP Confused

Are you sure you aren't doing this just because you dislike your ex MIL?

If I were in OP's position, I'd be very concerned about the possibility that my child might be given something they shouldn't have.
fearfulfran · 30/05/2021 22:07

Well I hope they're locked away

CarrotVan · 30/05/2021 22:19

You don’t need “evidence”. You are reporting reasonable suspicions to the relevant authorities to investigate

Original poster
EW1995 · 30/05/2021 22:29

Thank you everyone for your replies, I’m going to call the relevant people when they are back open on Tuesday morning, I would rather be safe than sorry especially when my child is around her and could potentially come to harm, thank you again everyone x

OP posts: