Page 8 | To ask my pharmacist to use my actual title on my medicine

Everythingisnumbersnow · 2025-02-18T16:00:22+00:00

decided to edit this a bit for clarity - I'm a Ms, my pharmacist keeps writing Miss on the labels (as part of a wider pattern of annoying behaviour). Will I look mad if I say please call me Ms on my labels? (The prescriptions all say Ms)

MrSolitaire · 18/02/2025 18:12

lemonfizzysweets · 18/02/2025 17:43

I have come here in solidarity. I also have a pharmacist who got quite visibly exasperated when I questioned something which then actually highlighted an error had been made. He now makes the same face when I go in every month to pick up my prescription. A sour pinched face and a theatrical sigh.

I also have been reverted to a Miss, rather than a Ms and each time I ask if it can be changed he sighs again, makes a 'don't you know how busy we are' eye roll' with a 'look at what i have to put up with' glance around everyone else waiting and promises one of the team will update it when they have a spare second....

Have you not politely challenged him about his attitude? I certainly wouldn’t be putting up with such obvious distain and irritation! I’d be in huge trouble if I behaved like that with my customers at work!

thegirlwithemousyhair · 18/02/2025 18:12

I am called Mrs, Miss, Ms - I used to correct people from time to time but now I really couldn't give a toss what a stranger calls me. I dont take it personally and I am not my title at the end of the day.

Original poster

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/02/2025 18:12

nameXname · 18/02/2025 18:11

As previous posters have said, all this could AMAZINGLY SIMPLY be solved if we followed the French system, which uses Madame for any adult female (ie above around 18- 20 years old), married or single. It's an exact parallel for the title 'Mr' accorded to adult males. So totally equal - unless people want to be otherwise performative about it. (And that's their right, of course.)

Just why don't we all get together and demand this? We're - women - over 50% of the UK population. Come on Mumsnet - start the campaign!

Ironically, after all this fuss, it's also important to note that Miss, Mrs, Ms are all abbreviations for the same old word: Mistress.That meant adult woman worthy of respect. Regardless of marital status.Have a read of this:
www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/mistress-miss-mrs-or-ms-untangling-the-shifting-history-of-titles

Compte moi in

OP posts:

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 18/02/2025 18:13

nameXname · 18/02/2025 18:11

As previous posters have said, all this could AMAZINGLY SIMPLY be solved if we followed the French system, which uses Madame for any adult female (ie above around 18- 20 years old), married or single. It's an exact parallel for the title 'Mr' accorded to adult males. So totally equal - unless people want to be otherwise performative about it. (And that's their right, of course.)

Just why don't we all get together and demand this? We're - women - over 50% of the UK population. Come on Mumsnet - start the campaign!

Ironically, after all this fuss, it's also important to note that Miss, Mrs, Ms are all abbreviations for the same old word: Mistress.That meant adult woman worthy of respect. Regardless of marital status.Have a read of this:
www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/mistress-miss-mrs-or-ms-untangling-the-shifting-history-of-titles

Honestly, I think the reason women don't get together and demand this is because most married women still see being married as a social status symbol.

HH4432 · 18/02/2025 18:13

MarshmallowClouds · 18/02/2025 16:05

On a scale of things that annoy me this would be very, very, very low down.

Thanks for that 😂but this post isn't about YOU

Original poster

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/02/2025 18:14

lemonfizzysweets · 18/02/2025 17:43

I have come here in solidarity. I also have a pharmacist who got quite visibly exasperated when I questioned something which then actually highlighted an error had been made. He now makes the same face when I go in every month to pick up my prescription. A sour pinched face and a theatrical sigh.

I also have been reverted to a Miss, rather than a Ms and each time I ask if it can be changed he sighs again, makes a 'don't you know how busy we are' eye roll' with a 'look at what i have to put up with' glance around everyone else waiting and promises one of the team will update it when they have a spare second....

Solidarity !It's so bloody annoying.

OP posts:

141mum · 18/02/2025 18:14

AppleDumplingWithCustard · 18/02/2025 16:27

Don’t be utterly ridiculous.

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Oh God, get a bloody life

Oioisavaloy27 · 18/02/2025 18:15

Of all the things going on in the world you have to find the tiniest thing to whine about, there's people out there dying of cancer! Get a grip!

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 18/02/2025 18:17

lemonfizzysweets · 18/02/2025 17:43

I have come here in solidarity. I also have a pharmacist who got quite visibly exasperated when I questioned something which then actually highlighted an error had been made. He now makes the same face when I go in every month to pick up my prescription. A sour pinched face and a theatrical sigh.

I also have been reverted to a Miss, rather than a Ms and each time I ask if it can be changed he sighs again, makes a 'don't you know how busy we are' eye roll' with a 'look at what i have to put up with' glance around everyone else waiting and promises one of the team will update it when they have a spare second....

Does he realise it would be quicker just to get it right in the first place?

Peach0123 · 18/02/2025 18:18

I might be missing the point here but your annoyed they are using the wrong title for you on the labels. They don't know it's wrong yet though. They can't DO anything if they don't know.

Can you not just ask them to change it? From what other pharmacists and dispensers here have said, they will happily do that and not think any more of it. Even just pop in or send a quick email, they don't need a reason for the change just be polite and ask if your title can be changed. It's nor that deep.

Also shop about for your prescription if your unhappy with price. If you feel judged that's a whole new issue in which you may need to decide if pursuing a complaint (you'll obviously have evidence 🤔) is worth it.

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 18/02/2025 18:19

Everythingisnumbersnow · 18/02/2025 18:12

Compte moi in

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Moi aussi

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 18/02/2025 18:21

MissScarletInTheBallroom · 18/02/2025 18:13

Honestly, I think the reason women don't get together and demand this is because most married women still see being married as a social status symbol.

Show quote history

I don't think you'll ever get British women to accept that. French, German, Dutch, Italian ect, etc seem to cope.

Wonderi · 18/02/2025 18:23

I have been called miss, mrs, ms on a daily basis and it doesn’t bother me one bit.

I never understand why people always have to find something to be offended about.

Why does this ruin your day so much?

Pluvia · 18/02/2025 18:23

I pay the pharmacist hundreds of pounds I think they could owe me a bit of politeness in return

Tell me you don't really believe that the pharmacist takes home all the money you pay for your private drug supply?

Roseyposey11 · 18/02/2025 18:24

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 18/02/2025 16:12

I would refuse to take the medication out of principle.

And how is that going to help anyone? Ridiculous 🙄🙄🙄🙄

LovelyLeitrim · 18/02/2025 18:25

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 18/02/2025 16:12

I would refuse to take the medication out of principle.

I’d ban you from my pharmacy for that !

Just take your custom elsewhere.

DetectiveSleuth · 18/02/2025 18:27

I just wouldn’t be able to get annoyed about this.

Helpwithdivorce · 18/02/2025 18:28

If this is all you have to get worked up about you must lead a very nice stress free life

OneFineDay13 · 18/02/2025 18:28

MarshmallowClouds · 18/02/2025 16:05

On a scale of things that annoy me this would be very, very, very low down.

Yes this....sometimes mail or other letters has me down as Mrs, some even say my married name and I don't care tbh

TheLionandAlbert · 18/02/2025 18:30

Yes, tell them if it bothers you. They’ll privately roll their eyes, but who cares.

Grammarnut · 18/02/2025 18:30

I think mine say name and surname, no title. Pharmacists must check a lot of things (e.g. your age, name and address which usually they will ask you) before handing over your prescription and what title they use on the bottle seems to me entirely irrelevant unless you realise they have prescribed you someone else's. Storm in teacup otherwise?

Tartanboots · 18/02/2025 18:34

Give them one more chance? Or just get your meds delivered from an online chemist instead?

Greysquirrels · 18/02/2025 18:36

Could you not just say 'out of interest my title is Ms, but you keep writing Miss on the labels. Is that because the system has me down as miss?'

A proud Miss here - makes me feel young and free!

Praying4Peace · 18/02/2025 18:38

Growlybear83 · 18/02/2025 17:53

I understand how the OP feels. The title that people use when writing to me or using my name it's important to me and if someone is aware of my title, I find it very rude if they choose to call me something else. I've been a Mrs for over 40 years and a Miss before then, and I expect people to respect that and not address me as Ms. I'm not sure that I would bother to raise it for something like a prescription but I would challenge this in most situations.

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This post emphasises the difference in people's opinions on the importance of a specific title.
I'm not married and prefer the title 'Miss'. This is because I had my child out of wedlock and was scorned by many and attempts by some to feel ashamed. Sad but true. So for that reason, it's important that I am a 'Miss';
to clarify that I am proud of raising my child alone after all the criticism and negativity.
In OPs place, I suggest she makes a simple request to the pharmacy as I do in situations where I am given the 'wrong'' title

IHaveAlwaysLivedintheCastle · 18/02/2025 18:38

whitbywaves · 18/02/2025 17:07

As an pharmacist I would of course change things as requested and apologise politely for any offence.

Though in my head I would probably be thinking of the drugs I had just dispensed for the terminally ill patient or the oxygen cylinder for the young mother or the unused drugs received from a recently bereaved family member or the increase dose of morphine for someone's pain that could not get under control. None of that of course has anything to do with you at all and maybe shows how unprofessional / horrible I am, but I know I would secretly think it. I wouldn't, I sincerely hope, let anything show and treat you professionally in future. And make sure all the staff treated you also with the respect in future too by adhering to your wishes.

As a pharmacist shouldn't you be thinking about the customer you're dealing with at the time? So yes, that does make you look unprofessional and a bit virtue signalling.

I know what the OP means about getting rude treatment from pharmacists when collecting a private prescription. My local Boots was awful for that. The price was wildly inconsistent too. I queried it once when it was surprisingly low and wondered if it was incorrect to their detriment. Was told "do you want it or not"?

Another independant pharmacist took it upon herself to lecture me about why I shouldn't be using the meds.