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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think this should be brought to the attention of the practice managers attention............

57 replies

sugar34plum · 29/01/2008 18:30

I took dd3 (19 months) to the dr's this am as she is really unwell. He diagnosed croup ( none of my other 5 dc's have ever had this) printed her off a prescription and off we went to chemists. 5 minutes in there and the pharmacist asked to have a word.

The dose on the prescription was for 250mg and as dd is only 19 months it should have been for just 125mg. 250mg would have been an overdose for her as she has to have it 4 times aday. Ph said she would do it but it was at my risk to give it to dd.

Like hell i was about to so i went back to gp. Receptionist took script in after i explained and came out smiling and said yes it was an oversight and that the ph was their back up

No sorry about that from dr it was just dismissed.

I know i will be double checking any prescriptions they write for me or any of my dc's from now on.

OP posts:
3littlefrogs · 29/01/2008 18:34

Thank goodness for vigilant pharmacists.

crokky · 29/01/2008 18:35

I think that is fairly outrageous

wheresthehamster · 29/01/2008 18:39

I'm surprised that the ph didn't phone the surgery for confirmation and amazed that he/she was prepared to give it to you after telling you it was wrong!

lulalullabye · 29/01/2008 18:39

yes, worth letting them know, and ask them what they will do about it.

MrsMag · 29/01/2008 18:39

I think the doctor or practise manager should apologise, this was, after all a life threatening mistake.

MrsMag · 29/01/2008 18:40

gawd sorry about my punctuation. Disracted by fifi and the farkin flower tots.

kindersurprise · 29/01/2008 18:42

Yes, I would have a word with the practice manager.

Thank goodness the pharmacist was wide awake today.

Sibble · 29/01/2008 18:43

I would make a complaint, while we are all human and make errors, you don't know how many other times he has got someting wrong. I had a similar thing last week. ds2 ws prescribed eurax for itchy spots pharmacist dispenced efamax with the eurax label over the top. Read insert, caution cytotoxic etc very scary stuff. Rang them, they freaked. Am now in process of incident reports and meetings. I'm not usually one to make a fuss (hate confrontation) but dh doesn't read inserts and would have merrily slapped it all over ds2.

mylovelymonster · 29/01/2008 18:43

A formal complaint (to the practice at first - they should have a process - at least they can make everyone a bit more vigilant) would not be overdoing it. The GP should have been more thoughtful and to rely on the pharmacist is not good enough when the GP has had the child in front of him - bordering on negligent (sorry if splet wrong

Glad it was spotted in time and no harm done x

ALdc · 29/01/2008 18:44

How scary. Thanks for posting that. I never think to check my prescriptions dosage but I will now.

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 29/01/2008 18:46

I would write down everything that was said, and by whom, while it is fresh in your mind.

I would then write a letter to the PCC reporting the facts of what happened. I wouldn't bother contacting the GP surgery. This is a serious error and I don't think the surgery should have a chance to get out of this tbh.

at the pharmacist and the receptionsit!

McDreamy · 29/01/2008 18:48

Not sure it is a matter for the Practice Manger though. He works for the GP's. I would address it to the senior partner. What are you trying to achieve? If it's just an apology then is it worth the effort?

Please don't think I am trying to dismiss what happened. It is bad practise but in a way the receptionist is right, after all that's why they have pharmacists checking prescriptions.

tissy · 29/01/2008 18:50

what was the drug? If it was an antibiotic, it was NOT a life threatening mistake.

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 29/01/2008 18:50

Steam is best for croup.

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 29/01/2008 18:51

Pharmacists can't possibly be there to check for potential mistakes from GPs! GPs shouldn't be making them in the first place.

tissy · 29/01/2008 18:52

also, prescriptions are often based on size i.e. weight of the child, not age, so a heavy one year old might need the same dose as a light two year old.

Original poster
sugar34plum · 29/01/2008 19:11

she is a slightly smaller than average 19 months. The prescription is for antibiotics. And the gp is question is one of the senior partners that owns the surgery.

Tissy it may not have been life threatening for my dd but it could have been if it was a different drug for someone else.

I honestly dont know what i would be expecting. I would like to think this was a complete one off and it will never happen again.To anyone!

OP posts:
Kathyis6incheshigh · 29/01/2008 19:15

I am at this thread.
Of course it would be great if doctors were superhuman and never made mistakes, but because they are human there have to be systems in place to pick up errors. There was a system in place, and the error was spotted.
You just seem to be expecting an awful lot ('complete one off', 'never happen again to anyone').

McDreamy · 29/01/2008 19:16

I am in agreement with Kathy. The system for checking drugs is in place and today the system worked. Yes the GP made a mistake but the wrong drugs weren't dispensed.

Original poster
sugar34plum · 29/01/2008 19:18

Of course i am expecting a lot. what was i thinking expecting a doctor to make a correct diagnosis and then to give my child the correct medicine what was i thinking!

OP posts:
Kathyis6incheshigh · 29/01/2008 19:21

Well, you are saying here that they should always get it right and never make mistakes. That's not so realistic.

McDreamy · 29/01/2008 19:27

No Sugar you were not at all expecting too much. You should indeed be able to go to a GP expect a correct diagnosis and correct medication to treat the problem, I whole heartedly agree.

But I also accept that occasionally mistakes do unfortunately happen. In this incident there was a system in place to reduce the risk of incorrect drugs/dosage being administered by having medications checked by a pharmacist and all I am saying is that today that double checking worked and you were not sent home with the incorrect information about your child's medications.

This is just my opinion, if you feel a letter is needed then you must go ahead and write one (not sure who to address it too if he is a senior partner, GMC going a bit too far).

Original poster
sugar34plum · 29/01/2008 19:29

No its not realistic but yes its what i expect. Tell me how you would feel if a mistake was made with one of your dc's medication and it was life threatening. Would you still be saying oh well there only human?

Think im unreasonable and over dramatic or whatever it is your thinking about me i couldnt care less. this is my precious dd's health and i wont accept mistakes on that.

OP posts:
Original poster
sugar34plum · 29/01/2008 19:31

Mcdreamy it was only stopped because i refused to take the risk if you read properly the pharmacist was willing to give me the 250mg if i was willing to administer it to her. Which i wasnt.

OP posts:
Fireflyfairy2 · 29/01/2008 19:31

My SIL works in the chemist. She gets the script on the computer (I can't remember her 'title', she then packs it into the bottle... then the pharmacist checks it after her, then the technician checks it after her!!

So there are 3 people who look at the script after the doctor does. It is their job to check to make sure it is the right amount etc..

SIL & I just had that conversation last week!

I think mistakes can be made & that doctors are not super human.

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