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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:
HonoriaGlossop · 29/01/2008 19:35

I think a letter to the Senior partner at the surgery would be fine, or if you want you will probably find a leaflet on how to make a complaint, in the surgery. Then there is PALS the Patient Liason and Advice service, they would be able to advise you what best to do.

At the very least it's worth raising it so that the practice doctors get a chance to discuss it, it can't harm for them to have a moment to realise how very easy this sort of mistake is to make; they may be able to also think about putting a system of checks in within the practice, possibly.

Agree that doctors are human and it is unrealistic to think that the nhs will never make another mistake, however you do now have the chance to raise the issue.

I think if it were me I'd take a bottle of wine in for that fantastic pharmacist, you and your dd must be so grateful

Original poster
sugar34plum · 29/01/2008 19:35

i dont expect them to be superhuman just bloody right!

OP posts:
McDreamy · 29/01/2008 19:36

Woah Sugar I am not thinking anything about you, I think you have asked a perfectly reasonable question, I am just giving my opinion, telling you how I see it.

I am a nurse and I have made drug errors, I am not perfect, fortunately I have never endangered anyone's live but potentially I could have I guess.

DH is a GP (not sure if he has made any drug errors) and I know how much is expected of him. I know how he is frowned upon when he looks things up in a book because he is expected to know absolutely everything and he can't. I don't envy his job one jot!

I really hope I haven't offended you

jasper · 29/01/2008 19:37

Don't honestly think it is a huge deal but I work in the NHS so am used to this kind of thing .I can see how it would be alarming to you though.

Not life threataning either.
Pharmacists are great at spotting this kind of thing.

In fact I think pharmacists are the unsung heroes of the NHS

Original poster
sugar34plum · 29/01/2008 19:38

The most important thing for me is that she now has the right medication and she will hopefully be feeling much better by the morning.

But i will bring it up as i think it should be noted.

OP posts:
McDreamy · 29/01/2008 19:40

Hopes she gets better soon Sugar

wheresthehamster · 29/01/2008 19:40

The doctor made a mistake (only human), the pharmacist picked it up (great backup system) - what I can't understand is why the pharmacist was willing to dispense it?

McDreamy · 29/01/2008 19:42

I agree, maybe that is the bit a little more worthy of investigation?

Original poster
sugar34plum · 29/01/2008 19:46

Thanks mc dreamy.

Gp's can be given a hard time i understand that. But this was a mistake that shouldnt have happened and im just as that the pharmacist after initially being alrmed at the mistake was still willing to give me the prescription.

It been a long tiring 2 days and im going to have a bath and more to the point calm down.

I appreciate everyones comments. We all have our own opinions. But in this instance she is my precious and im a vicious animal when it comes to the protection of my dc's

OP posts:
McDreamy · 29/01/2008 19:48

Good for you, so you should be

Now go and have your bath and have some you time

I'll catch up with you tomorrow to see how she's doing!!!

HonoriaGlossop · 29/01/2008 19:48

McDreamy my GP has looked stuff up in a book for me on a few occasions and I always am really pleased to see it, I'd rather someone had the full facts at their disposal rather than relied on memory if they're not sure. I certainly wouldn't frown on your DH for doing that - good on him I say

mylovelymonster · 29/01/2008 19:49

Antibiotics do have toxicities asscociated - and double the dose, although perhaps not life threatening, would not be good for a young child. It's well worth making a complaint to the practice as it is in everyone's interest to identify and acknowledge errors when they occur and to give a shot in the arm for vigilance.
Doesn't mean anyone gets into trouble - and they don't need to, errors are made, GPs are human too - just a good idea for those involved to be aware. Parents too! I always look at script and read back to GP to double check.

McDreamy · 29/01/2008 19:51

You would be amazed how unacceptable this is to some people.

kindersurprise · 29/01/2008 19:54

Yes, GPs make mistakes, they are human.

I think that if the doc had come out and apologised then you might not be so angry.

If nothing else, writing a letter might make them think about the way they treat their patients. It is a matter of common courtesy to apologise for a mistake.

Milliways · 29/01/2008 19:56

I work at a surgery, and ANY complaints are taken extremely seriously and would be raised at a Partners Meeting.

I would write a letter pointing out mistake, but not ranting - just saying you would like it noted.

NAB3wishesfor2008 · 29/01/2008 20:10

I don't think the ph deserves a bottle of wine. She told the OP the medicine wasn't right but was still willing to give it to the child. That is worse than the GP's mistake imo. A conscious wrong doing.

McDreamy · 30/01/2008 17:56

How are things today Sugar? Is your DD any better? How are you?

contentiouscat · 30/01/2008 18:05

I would write a note to the practice - I didnt know the pharmacist checked the prescription (learn something new every day)

McDreamy I agre with Honoria - I am always pleased if my GP looks something up, how can they possibly be expected to remember EVERYTHING bearing in mind how complex the human body is. Hmm regarding his patients who think its unacceptable - probably just the kind of people who complain about EVERYTHING.

Original poster
sugar34plum · 30/01/2008 18:26

Hi mc dreamy she is still poorly and doing a great darth vadar impression! Now my youngest 2 ds's are couging too.And its my birthday tomorrow and dh working away.

So i think yesterday was me seriously over reacting and being a miserable cow!

Although i did read my take a break earlier and there was a story of a downs baby being given 10 times the strenght of medication and she died.

Thankyou so much for asking after her its very thoughtful x

OP posts:
Kimi · 30/01/2008 18:27

I remember a locom Dr giving me a prescription for anti sickness pills and anti biotics when I was pregnant, that the pharmacist told me were both unsafe for me to take. I told the Dr I was pregnant and unless he thought I lived on lard he could SEE I was pregnant.

I dread to think what would have happened if I had taken them.

I wonder how many people end up taking the wrong thing because of a GPs mistake.

McDreamy · 30/01/2008 18:29

Have been thinking about you today and wondering how you were doing.

Sorry to here you are on your own with 3 poorly ones too and it's your birthday!! Hope you can try and have a happy one! Are you and DH planning to go out when he gets home to celebrate? I think you more than deserve it, birthday or not!!!

MeMySonAndI · 30/01/2008 18:30

Make a complaint, error happen all the time, it is only when they are reported that the issues are taken seriously and therefore avoided in the future.

BTW my son was once prescribed an antibacterial for an ear infection becuase the doctor who saw him thought that antibacterial was the word in English for antiobiotics. I was getting ready to get back to the practice when they rang me to let me know of the mistake.

Original poster
sugar34plum · 30/01/2008 18:58

Thankyou.

Poor dh is feeling guilty for working bless him. The kids are great they have all had baths and all 5 are cuddled under a quilt on the sofa whilst i spend 5 minutes on here and talking to mum on phone too!

I said to her i feel old she said how do you think i feel!! btw im 35 tomorrow.

Now im calmer i will mention it to the practie manager but not in a really having a go way just want to point it out.

OP posts:
FriedGreenTomatoes · 30/01/2008 19:06

My gran dies from an overdose prescription that her GP gave her. The pharmacist phoned him to query it but he insisted it was right. Fortunately he has been struck off now. It is so worrying that mistakes like this can happen, but it is great that pharmacists do act as a second point of verification.

FriedGreenTomatoes · 30/01/2008 19:07

I meant died