pharmacy experience

Odysseus

As most of you know I work in the addiction services, I often have this conversation with other professions about how badly drug users are treated in this country. I got a taste of it the other day.

I currently on a non-opiate drug, so not a CD, but one our clients have a particular taste for. Any I live 80km away from work and I was I a rush trying to get a pick-up to get home after the doctors.

First chemist I went into it was stamped before the pharmacists came out to me and said she only had 57 instead of the 100 on the script, and could I collect the rest later. I point out my address and told her no, adding that once I got home I’m quite isolated. I really hate when pharmacists stamp a script and then tell you that the do not have the required amount.

So tried a second chemist, I by this stage knew that I was going to has issues because of the stamp, so in I go, explained the situation. Firstly I told I doubt we have that amount, but the assistant disappeared for about 10 min. I then pinged she was ringing the GP to check out the script. So back she comes say she could not get an answer, she wouldn’t it was now 13:00 and that clinic closes at that time. She told me she needed his GMS number as we all know is b0llocks as it was a private prescription. I say would you need that as it not a GMS script, but just got oh we need it for every script. So I just asked of my script back and left.

I was on foot and rang a mate of my who has his pharmacy telling him I may be over if to him, but that I would try one more first. Next one said no problem, but I have to ring the first pharmacy to confirm nothing was dispensed. I left with my script, but stopped outside and copped immediately that there was not a 100 dispensed. Two of the blister packs had been cut. I was less than 60 seconds outside, but I knew I was on a loser, but also knew my I needed to point this out.

So back in with me, I said I know you are not going to believe me, but there are not 100 here, “yes there is” and I was informed about his state of the art stock-taking system. I knew I was been written off as one of my clients, so I just said I’m making my point and you need to check you stock-taking. At that point I “well if you’re only making a point and he turned his backing on me and started to walk away, so I left myself point being made.

So what do the pharmacists here of this one? Very poor show imo.

FluffyCat

Had to read your post a few times before I understood it! (typos)

The amount of forged scripts and scripts which are sold on as soon as dispensed are so common these days I can understand the pharmacies stand.
When getting any CDs or abusable drugs its best to stick to the same pharmacy esp when looking for 100 tabs. That is alot to give out at once and a pharmacy has every right to refuse if in any doubt.
Ask the doctor to write out a letter to say the script is legal. It may help you in future.

bleg

Well you seem to know yourself what should have happened. The first pharmacy should have asked you was 57 ok before stamping the script, then you would have been fine in the second pharmacy.

The third pharmacy made a mistake, simple as that I think.

Odysseus

FluffyCat wrote: »

Had to read your post a few times before I understood it! (typos)

The amount of forged scripts and scripts which are sold on as soon as dispensed are so common these days I can understand the pharmacies stand.
When getting any CDs or abusable drugs its best to stick to the same pharmacy esp when looking for 100 tabs. That is alot to give out at once and a pharmacy has every right to refuse if in any doubt.
Ask the doctor to write out a letter to say the script is legal. It may help you in future.

Firstly, apologies for the typos, I’m generally not on meds, so I don’t usually have a regular pharmacy. If they wanted to establish my identity why not ask for ID, rather than tell me they a lie i.e., they needed the GMS number. Remember I have worked in the Addiction Services for over 13yrs so I know what goes on with scripts.

If they have questions over the script, would a letter from the GP not be they same? If I had forged the script I could do the same with the letter?

However, thanks for your reply, I just got a taste of what my clients speak of is the way I’m looking at it.

Odysseus

bleg wrote: »

Well you seem to know yourself what should have happened. The first pharmacy should have asked you was 57 ok before stamping the script, then you would have been fine in the second pharmacy.

The third pharmacy made a mistake, simple as that I think.

Yes, but what about the mistake. I was outside less than 30seconds [enough time though for some of my clients to do the job] before I noted it, two of the blister had been cut rather than ripped off. However, the question of mistake was not up for discussion? Have you an opinion on that aspect?

Cheers for the responses guys, I really though this would not get a single one.

bleg

Odysseus wrote: »

Yes, but what about the mistake. I was outside less than 30seconds [enough time though for some of my clients to do the job] before I noted it, two of the blister had been cut rather than ripped off. However, the question of mistake was not up for discussion? Have you an opinion on that aspect?

Well I don't really know what you want me to say. The mistake shouldn't have happened, especially if they have such a sophisticated stock control system. However mistakes do and will happen.

Odysseus

bleg wrote: »

Well I don't really know what you want me to say. The mistake shouldn't have happened, especially if they have such a sophisticated stock control system. However mistakes do and will happen.

Just your opinion on it really, would you have discussed it, being open to check your system?

I know we are all human and we do make mistakes, but with working in the addiction services for over a deade and being a psychoanalyst I can make a good call on someone, and I said it appeared to me as I was written off as drug user not worth engaging with.

anotherlostie

I once (long time ago) worked in a pharmacy where a guy grabbed a bottle of Actifed Co Linctus from the back of a shelf (where it was hidden - not well enough obviously), legged it out of the pharmacy and drank the contents within 200 yards, when the security guard caught up with him. From the pharmacy's perspective you 'could' have had someone outside with partial blisters ready to swap them over immediately - you might think that is preposterous, but nothing surprised me when I was working in community pharmacy. I know I always disliked dispensing large quantities of psychoactive drugs (especially when the security guard would see them being dealt on the street within site of the pharmacy minutes later). And no, they were not the only two incidents I had - there was far worse, and I'm not going to go into that here.

The first pharmacy was remiss in suggesting the entire script was dispensed and I don't know why they could not have written a short note on the back of it stating why the dispensing was not carried out. They also should have asked you was it OK for a partial amount before dispensing, but I've noticed that happen to me too when picking up a regular script (where for me, it's not such an issue). I don't know why the second pharmacy didn't just ring the first one to confirm your story. The third pharmacy needs to revisit its stock control procedure.

Odysseus

anotherlostie wrote: »

I once (long time ago) worked in a pharmacy where a guy grabbed a bottle of Actifed Co Linctus from the back of a shelf (where it was hidden - not well enough obviously), legged it out of the pharmacy and drank the contents within 200 yards, when the security guard caught up with him. From the pharmacy's perspective you 'could' have had someone outside with partial blisters ready to swap them over immediately - you might think that is preposterous, but nothing surprised me when I was working in community pharmacy. I know I always disliked dispensing large quantities of psychoactive drugs (especially when the security guard would see them being dealt on the street within site of the pharmacy minutes later). And no, they were not the only two incidents I had - there was far worse, and I'm not going to go into that here.

The first pharmacy was remiss in suggesting the entire script was dispensed and I don't know why they could not have written a short note on the back of it stating why the dispensing was not carried out. They also should have asked you was it OK for a partial amount before dispensing, but I've noticed that happen to me too when picking up a regular script (where for me, it's not such an issue). I don't know why the second pharmacy didn't just ring the first one to confirm your story. The third pharmacy needs to revisit its stock control procedure.

If it was Actifed Co, that really was a long time ago;) I'm around the Addiction Services so I know what goes on. The first yes I hate when they do that, remember my address on the script is over 80k away can I pop back to collect the rest:eek: However, I stated above she did note that none were dispensed and the reason.

The second I have more of an issue with, lying about needing the GMS number, have the balls to say it as it is. The third was not willing to engage and after I stated that I was just making the point for the reason above I did not expect the mistake to be corrected, he turned his back on me and walked off.

Very unprofessional imo, as my tone was mild it was clear I was not going to cause a problem.