Are there many ways to complain about doctors and hospitals?

[Fiona2011231]

I'm don't complain often about services nor do I like to. However, the incident below made me wonder if there are ways to complain so that the services can be made better.

We brought our new-born child (two weeks old) to the Children's Assessment at our local hospital for a check-up. The doctor gave us a prescription and instructed us to go downstairs for the hospital pharmacy.

We had to wait nearly one hour until our names were called. The pharmacist asked how old the child was. We replied and she gave us the medicine.

When we were home and opened it, it turned out the medicine was for children 4 months old and up.

So our time was wasted. More worryingly, we think it indicated something doutbtful about the (young) doctor as well as the competence of the pharmacist there.

Is there any way to report or complain so that those people are reminded of their duty?

Thank you.

Yes you can complain to PALS the number should be on a poster in your gp surgery or in the hospital,call them they are very good.

Some medicines, calpol for one, will say age 4months and up on the bottle. However if they've been prescribed by a dr they can be used at any age. We give calpol to newborns in hospital. Have you queried the drug with the pharmacy since realising?

Like viva said medicines can quite often be given to children out of the age range given at a doctors discretion.

DS has been on an inhaler not licenced for under 4s and at the maximum dose for an under 12 since he was just turned 3 but that was the best treatment for him.

I wouldn't complain but I would phone them up and ask for clarification.

Many drugs will have a labelled age, but can be prescribed for younger children - my ds had a couple of things that had a labelled age of 8 when he was 2.

Thank you so much for your kind replies. I will check with NHS Choice on the phone to see if the medicine is suitable. Best.

You are best talking to the person who prescribed it, or at least someone with access to her medical records.

Also I'm pretty sure they prescribe it and the dosage depends on the weight of the baby. But double check with the appropriate people.

If you want to tell us what the drug was there's lots of people here who may be able to help

Exactly what the others said. Suitability for over the counter use is different to prescribed use.

My money is on Calpol FWIW.

Reeeeeeally? You'd complain about that rather than, I dunno, getting a second opinion and treatment for your unwell baby? And last time I checked being "young" did not make someone "unqualified".

I bet it's Calpol too.

Dr K8 x not a real doctor

Just out of interest, did you give your ill baby the medication he/she was prescribed? Or did you just automatically assume you knew better than the professionals?

So what is the medication?

We give calpol, Piriton, all sorts of things in hospital to children despite what it says on the label. Doesn't mean it's not safe.

DS has been on Piriton since he was 4 months old. Pharmacists are pretty thorough at spotting mistakes.

Oh, and it will have been checked by two phaacisy, despite who gave it out to you. I doubt their age has anything to do with it.

And waiting an hour is normal.

*pharmacists, even. No idea what that was...

I'm betting on daktarin oral gel myself. With the 4m thing.

Who goes straight into making a complaint without checking back with the prescriber/pharmacist first ?

I'm guessing the OP is not going to come back and tell us what the medication was...

Is this Fiona the armchair journalist or somebody else??? I could be wrong ...