Can I claim against a pharmacy giving me the wrong medication?

[BonkeyMollocks]

A few weeks ago I went to the doctors to get a repeat prescription of my contraceptive pill. She said it was fine and prescribed me a pill.
I picked it up and when I got home I realised it was different from my usual one. i thought maybe she had changed it for some reason, so I took it, thought nothing of it. I trust what they had given me was what the doctor prescribed.

A few days in, I became very down, angry, short tempered, unable to sleep well compleatly not myself. I have been like this for a few weeks. I went back to a Nurse today and said I thought it was the pill making me like this and if she could explain why it was changed. There is no record of the pill being prescribed to me. Turns out the mistake was made by the pharmacy. The Doctor wrote on my records "Patient is happy with current pill, repeat prescription given"

She gave me a quick check, turns out my blood pressure is high (it runs in my family but is fine normally) she said more than likely a side effect. As were the mood swings and depression type feelings.

I have had a few pills over the years and it turns out I have tried this one before and did not get on well due to the reasons stated above.

I am very annoyed that because of one tiny mistake, I have been feeling like this for weeks. I have to go back to the Doctors in a few weeks to have my blood pressure re-taken. Its been a huge inconvenience.

The Nurse said she will be getting someone to phone the pharmacy in question and make sure they are aware of the issue. She told me to pick my new prescription up from there tomorrow and lodge a complaint.

Can I make a legal claim? It sounds so silly a friend mentioned it to me and it got me thinking. I just don't know if its worth the hassle iyswim. If so what do I do?

Apart from a horrendous few weeks, I'm not that worse off, but I am worried because it could have been alot worse!

Sorry, its longer than I thought it would be. TIA

[IAmBooyhoo]

no you shouldn't try to claim. HTH

why are people so claim happy? it was a grumpy couple of weeks, you weren't out of pocket nd suffered no lasting effects.

[StealthPolarBear]

Ah x post when op was still getting a kicking
Now I feel stupid!

[Chubfuddler]

The op didn't ask whether she should. She asked whether she can.

HTH

[BonkeyMollocks]

Tbh I am a tad more worried about my blood pressure than the moods. There has been complications in my family re blood pressure.


But I have said and will say again, I came here for advice for something, I did not say I was going to do it. A friend put doubts in my mind. I wanted advice before I did anything! I will be lodging a serious complaint in writing though!

And I have learnt a lesson as to not be so naive as to trust the pharmacy to give me the right medication.

[IAmBooyhoo]

"BonkeyMollocksTue 24-Apr-12 19:49:18


I was not saying I would, I was asking if I should."

[ahhhhhpushit]

Iam clearly you know a big fat zilch about personal injury claims.

[IAmBooyhoo]

HTH

[IAmBooyhoo]

that's right ahhh, your point being?

[DonInKillerHeels]

You would seriously deny a child life-saving drugs for leukemia or another fatal illness for an honest mistake that made you feel a bit crap for a short time?

Because that's what a claim for compensation comes down to. Even if they settle out of court.

YABVVVVVVVVVU

[ahhhhhpushit]

If you'd suffered an injury as a result of the raised blood pressure (a heart attack?!) then maybe this would be included. Raising your blood pressure in and of itself would not be sufficient. There must have been actual harm suffered. Doesnt need to be lasting, but something measurable.

[Chubfuddler]

Are you setting out to come across as a massive tool or is it an accident? This isn't Aibu or WWYD it's legal matters. The op was after practical advice not a kicking.

[IAmBooyhoo]

is that to me chub? i haven't given anyone a kicking. i answered OP's question. i dont think she should claim and i explained why. where is the kicking?

[BonkeyMollocks]

You would seriously deny a child life-saving drugs for leukemia or another fatal illness for an honest mistake that made you feel a bit crap for a short time?

Because that's what a claim for compensation comes down to. Even if they settle out of court.

YABVVVVVVVVVU

Out of order. Read what I have written. I did not once say that its what I would be doing!! I was asking for advice which I am wondering as to whether I will bother again.

[ahhhhhpushit]

She wouldnt be suing the NHS. Are pharmacies part of the NHS?

[BonkeyMollocks]

Thankyou Chub :)

[Chubfuddler]

That wasnt her question. That was her supplementary to defend herself when the daily mail esque "there's no such thing as whiplash" crowd turned up.

[ahhhhhpushit]

You said she couldnt claim and then gave two totally and utterly incorrect and legally wrong reasons. On the legal board.

[DonInKillerHeels]

Well sorry Chubfuddler but I think anyone who seeks compensation from the NHS that would have no chance of getting court redress - even if just hoping for a settlement to make them go away - does deserve a harsh response, yes. Even if this is not AIBU. Because the more money the NHS has to waste on trivial claims, the more it has to ration treatment for people who are really ill.

Obviously if the NHS makes a mistake with serious, life-threatening or life-destroying consequences, then it should pay out. But this is not that situation.

[StealthPolarBear]

Op said she hadn't thought about it and a friend put the idea into her mind. She's taken on board the yabu comments and yet still they come.

[ahhhhhpushit]

Are pharmacies part of the NHS though?

[Chubfuddler]

It would have a good chance of getting court redress.

It's not a claim against the NHS.

Apart from that your point is?

[IAmBooyhoo]

she said she was asking if she should. i answered that she shouldn't.

"You said she couldnt claim and then gave two totally and utterly incorrect and legally wrong reasons. On the legal board."

wrong. i said she shouldn't not couldn't. and my answers may be inaccurate but they do not constitute a kicking.

[Floggingmolly]

Why was the nurse "shocked" that you had been given that precise version?
It's a contraceptive pill, they all have the same effect, none are more dangerous than other, are they?
If you'd been given arsenic when you'd been prescribed anadin, there might be an actual problem here. Get over yourself.

[Chubfuddler]

Anyway op I would encourage you in the strongest terms to make a complaint in writing and copy in the practice manager at your GP practice do they are in the loop. It may have been a one off mistake but it may be symptomatic of deep organisational problems at that pharmacy which could result in a very serious misdispensing incident.

[Casmama]

Pharmacists are not part of the NHS so the comment about denying a child treatment was nonsense.