To think this was poor from the pharmacist?

[Pharmacy1one]

6 weeks or so ago I got two cartilage piercings in my left ear, tragus and helix.

I kept irritating them by turning over in my sleep and my toddler has knocked them a few times too so I was getting those annoying irritation bumps which were tender. I haven't had any pus coming from them, no temperature or discharge, just a bit of clear fluid when i removed them which I know isn't that abnormal.

I went to the chemist and asked to speak to the pharmacist, receptionist asked what the problem was and I briefly explained and said I want to buy something for the inflammation but was hoping the pharmacist could take a look first.

Receptionist relays that to the pharmacist and the pharmacist decided, without looking or even speaking to me at all, that it's infected and I need to go to A&E and get antibiotics and sprays would be no good.

She had her baby with her strapped to her back so I don't think she could have sat down with me in the consultation room in the first place.

I'm a bit miffed as we are routinely encouraged to see a pharmacist for minor ailments to take the strain off of GP's and hospitals, but this is the response I got for trying.

I have PTSD after having sepsis so now I'm scared about an infection that I didn't feel I had in the first place 😔 I can't just rock up to A&E for something like this surely, and there's nobody to have my children anyway.

Do you think I'm being unreasonable for thinking her response was poor?

I really hope someone makes a complaint against this pharmacist. Of course she should not be working in this role with a baby strapped to her back. Her employer should be informed.

The receptionist!

Jesus christ

I asked the receptionist if I could have a word with the pharmacist because I'd like to buy a spray for my ear but wanted to know what one she'd reccomend.

The receptionist asked what the problem is.

I told the receptionist that I had to take out ear piercings as they were sore and sinking into my ear and I wanted something to sooth / calm down the inflammation

Receptionist passed that on.

The pharmacist then passed a message back that sprays wouldn't do anything and I need to go to A&E as it'll be an infection.

....without even looking at the ear.

As PP pointed out, there is a clear difference between inflammation and infection. I have no PUS*, no temperature etc.

I didn't have anything like savlon but would have gladly bought whatever the pharmacist suggested.. if she'd bothered to speak to me.

She has given me advice that doesn't apply. My ear is not infected, it's sore as hell because the bars were too small it seems.

Edited to say - it already feels 10 x better since removing the bars and there's no pus to be seen.

Yes, you asked the receptionist who asked the pharmacist.

That's what I said

She probably didn't need to based on the information given or its the standard advice they are told to give out. Go to a&e and don't take the risk

What are you being so unpleasant?

There's something very wrong if the stock answer for a sore ear is to go to A&E.

I'm not I just can't see the point of seeking advice from a trained professional and then ignore it. I don't mean to come across unpleasant

But it wasn’t just a sore ear. From your original post OP you explained to the counter assistant your issue and what you have done so far. The counter assistant would have passed this information on to the pharmacist. The pharmacist knowing they were newish piercings, the ears were sore, the piercings were sinking in the ears and you were asking for something for the inflammation they would know that there was nothing they could sell you and would be rightly concerned regarding infection. Inflammation is a sign of infection.
Both Community Pharmacies (Chemists) and GP practices are private businesses providing NHS services.
Before the NHS was formed GPs were private to encourage them to be part of the NHS they were allowed to remain as private business.

I'd like to know that too. I find it completely bizarre. Decent people don't approach randomers on the Internet and speak to them like that. Anybody would think I'd insulted them.

potentially pussy - she chose not to look
my point stands, she felt capable of fulfilling prescriptions carrying her baby, not to do 1:1 consultations. Her other option might be not to open at weekends.

Do you speak to people in person the way you speak to people online?

Ime, pharmacists have always looked at things (injuries, burns etc) and given advice. They have taken on extra scope of practice to add to what they have always done.

Do you speak to people in person the way you speak to people online?

pot, kettle black?

@chocmatcha or the pharmacist was rubbish?

Then all she need say is that she can't see me now and perhaps suggest I call 111 for advice, not direct me to A&E.

In terms of the pharmacist's time being used.

For community pharmacist programmes - they are paid by the NHS to see and assess people - I think it's £1,000 a month.

For private pharmacists, I guess they can see people if they think the costs of their time in seeing/talking to them will be reimbursed by that individual spending a significant amount of money on products from their pharmacy.

I think it could be a business decision rather than anything else.

All of your replies have been very unpleasant. Perhaps that’s something to reflect on?

Op did seek advice, but didn’t get it because the pharmacist didn’t even interact with op, let alone look at her ear. Her advice is therefore nul and void. There was nothing to ignore because the pharmacist had no idea what was going on with op. Unless she possesses magic powers of diagnosis without speaking to or looking at a patient.

Perhaps it’d have been more useful to op for the pharmacist to just say ‘sorry, I don’t know’.

@Pharmacy1one I’m not correcting your spelling. If you’ve a cat in your piercings you’re right. I’m assuming you have pus

Pedants corner is that way -->

The rest of us weren't confused that the OP might have a cat in her ear

Exactly this! Thank you very much.

Unfortunately this place is full of morons with very small lives.

i would just use previously boiled salted water

What a strange person.

No? Says lots about your literacy too then