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AIBU?

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Original poster

Am I right not to report this?

58 replies

Tilllly · 19/02/2023 16:10

I went to boots on Friday to pick up my prescription. They couldn’t find it. 15 minutes later, and they were still looking, having asked if I was sure I'd not collected it! 🙄

There were quite a few people at the front of the counter, so I stood to the side.
So when they opened a drawer while they were looking, I spotted something that looked like it could be mine

Yes, that was my carrier bag of three months worth of prescriptions
I couldn’t understand why they hadn’t spotted it, given that there were four different sets of tablets and eyedrops, which are bulky

By this time, the store manager had come over, and as it turned out, it was my prescription - but with somebody else’s details on the label.

I thought these things were checked? That person could’ve taken my prescription drugs away, and moreover, somebody has their prescription with my name, address, date of birth and phone number on the label!

The store manager apologised profusely and said she was going to look into how this could’ve happened, but it’s still really quite alarming

So I left it at that, but I kind of feel I ought to report it... breach of my personal information to start with. But the person whose details were on my prescription could have taken that away, and some people would perhaps just take the medicine that was in there?
It includes some meds for cancer and stroke, so potentially quite dangerous if you don't need to take them

Am dithering

OP posts:
Tohaveandtohold · 19/02/2023 16:43

If they’ve given someone else something with your details ( which I’m sure they haven’t), they’ll have to investigate it anyway and report themselves so I’m not sure what you reporting it is going to achieve except get someone in trouble or maybe some compensation 🤷‍♀️

Wearingatshirt · 19/02/2023 16:44

I agree with your friends OP. The manager may well not look into it. Whether or not the staffcare under pressure this should not have happened. The most likely reason for this near miss is due to being understaffed. Have you looked around most Boots stores these days? Hardly any staff to be seen.
By reporting this to say Head Office then you're actually helping them to realise that they need to look at their staffing levels in the pharmacies. By not reporting it and giving the manager a chance to brush it under the carpet is helping no one.

Original poster
Tilllly · 19/02/2023 16:45

@Pssspsss
So in answer to my question, in short... I am right not to report it?! 🙂

Could've been a catastrophe, wasn't, store manager is looking into it. I don't need to do anything

OP posts:
Original poster
Tilllly · 19/02/2023 16:46

Tohaveandtohold · 19/02/2023 16:43

If they’ve given someone else something with your details ( which I’m sure they haven’t), they’ll have to investigate it anyway and report themselves so I’m not sure what you reporting it is going to achieve except get someone in trouble or maybe some compensation 🤷‍♀️

What on earth have i written to make you think I'm looking for compensation?

OP posts:
JMSA · 19/02/2023 16:48

Hi OP. I wouldn't report this personally, but I am glad you finally got your medication!

Pssspsss · 19/02/2023 16:53

Tilllly · 19/02/2023 16:45

@Pssspsss
So in answer to my question, in short... I am right not to report it?! 🙂

Could've been a catastrophe, wasn't, store manager is looking into it. I don't need to do anything

No honestly. I wouldn’t report this. Believe you and me I am the first to kick off for bad service etc but this is not something that would benefit anyone

LadyKenya · 19/02/2023 16:54

I would not report something like this. I would trust that the manager would look into things properly, once highlighted. People are not robots.

Pssspsss · 19/02/2023 16:55

Wearingatshirt · 19/02/2023 16:44

I agree with your friends OP. The manager may well not look into it. Whether or not the staffcare under pressure this should not have happened. The most likely reason for this near miss is due to being understaffed. Have you looked around most Boots stores these days? Hardly any staff to be seen.
By reporting this to say Head Office then you're actually helping them to realise that they need to look at their staffing levels in the pharmacies. By not reporting it and giving the manager a chance to brush it under the carpet is helping no one.

😂😂😂😂 who do you think makes the decisions to woefully understaff the stores. Head office know damn well they are chronically understaffed

Womencanlift · 19/02/2023 16:56

There is no breach as nobody else was given your details. Your friends sound like busy bodies just wanting to get someone in trouble for a genuine mistake that has had no negative impact on anyone

Let the manager do her job and look to see what happened but I would bet it will be as others have said that everyone working in healthcare right now is working over and above their limits

ItsAllSoComplicated · 19/02/2023 17:00

That persons drugs have been dispensed to them with my details on the bag

You don’t know that actually happened.
They may have had a bag with their details on. A duplicate label may have been put on your bag in error.

Original poster
Tilllly · 19/02/2023 17:00

Womencanlift · 19/02/2023 16:56

There is no breach as nobody else was given your details. Your friends sound like busy bodies just wanting to get someone in trouble for a genuine mistake that has had no negative impact on anyone

Let the manager do her job and look to see what happened but I would bet it will be as others have said that everyone working in healthcare right now is working over and above their limits

But someone else did get their meds with my information on

But am happy to go with recent posters and my initial reaction, to leave the store manager to look into what happened

OP posts:
watchfulwishes · 19/02/2023 17:06

Tilllly · 19/02/2023 16:17

Sorry, I wasn't clear.

The label on my bag of prescription drugs had somebody else's name and address.

That persons drugs have been dispensed to them with my details on the bag.

Yes, I'd log this formally with the pharmacy then.

swapcicles · 19/02/2023 17:08

You have no proof your details were given out to anyone.
Just because your sticker was missing doesn't mean it was put on another bag, It probably got damaged somehow and when reprinting the wrong one was printed.
You have spoken to the store manger, (Although should have been the pharmacy manager) Leave it with them and if your still concerned pop back in a week or so and ask what they have done to ensure this does not happen again.

CantGetDecentNickname · 19/02/2023 17:14

OP stated "somebody has their prescription with my name, address, date of birth and phone number on the label!" and this is enough information for someone to steal your identity.

It is a breach of the UK GDPR, but up to them to report.

ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/personal-data-breaches/

Xol · 19/02/2023 17:30

I don't understand how you know that someone got your medication with your details on?

bikiniisland · 19/02/2023 17:31

CantGetDecentNickname · 19/02/2023 17:14

OP stated "somebody has their prescription with my name, address, date of birth and phone number on the label!" and this is enough information for someone to steal your identity.

It is a breach of the UK GDPR, but up to them to report.

ico.org.uk/for-organisations/guide-to-data-protection/guide-to-the-general-data-protection-regulation-gdpr/personal-data-breaches/

OP stating this doesn't make it true.

How on earth would OP know this?

Original poster
Tilllly · 19/02/2023 17:33

Xol · 19/02/2023 17:30

I don't understand how you know that someone got your medication with your details on?

I don't remember exactly - something they said when they found my meds
They knew the person whose label was on mine
It's a small store - don't think there is a pharmacy manager, for whoever mentioned that. I didn't ask for the store manager, she came over to help

OP posts:
DisforDarkChocolate · 19/02/2023 17:34

This should be recorded as a near miss/incident at the pharmacy. I'd start by going in and asking to see a copy of this with the other person's name redacted. I'd also check if they had contacted the other person. They have a Duty of Candour to do this.

Original poster
Tilllly · 19/02/2023 17:38

DisforDarkChocolate · 19/02/2023 17:34

This should be recorded as a near miss/incident at the pharmacy. I'd start by going in and asking to see a copy of this with the other person's name redacted. I'd also check if they had contacted the other person. They have a Duty of Candour to do this.

Do you think I need to? The manager said she'd look into it, (without me asking)

OP posts:
GlassBunion · 19/02/2023 17:49

Honestly? Dump Boots and find a different pharmacy.

We used to use Boots as our pharmacy as the doctor's practice was almost next door.

Endless short falls, wrong prescriptions, not in stock receipts .

We moved to a Link pharmacy a few doors down. Never a problem unless the GP messed up. Personal service and they know us.

StickofVeg · 19/02/2023 17:55

If you want to check whether you short report it you could have a look at the Care Quality Commission. www.cqc.org.uk/guidance-providers/adult-social-care/reporting-medicine-related-incidents They do also define "near misses" which may cover your case.

Personally I wouldn't both, what you describe seems shoddy of them, but I wouldn't take it further as it was probably a honest error in an under pressure pharmacy.

Atethehalloweenchocs · 19/02/2023 18:09

Surely that is why they ask you for your details? So you cant take away some random prescription? I was once almost given my sisters medications but they asked for confirmation before handing it over and realized they had the wrong thing in their hands.

OhwhyOY · 19/02/2023 22:22

@Tilllly entirely useless post to you but I'm wondering how on earth you knew which bag of medication was yours without your name on it?! There's literally hundreds of bags in my local pharmacy when I go in!

RiverSkater · 20/02/2023 02:01

It's a near miss, and yes, should be investigated as next time the mistake may happen.

Sunflowergirl1 · 20/02/2023 04:39

Simple mistake of putting the wrong persons label on. Did the individual items have the correct patient label?

Frankly I'm not surprised. Boots clearly have staffing issues as the three branches local to me all have lengthy queues at the prescription counter. I waited 40 mins last week and is frankly ridiculous. I'm going to change my nominated chemist for prescriptions as it's hopeless