Had a really rubbish day,

[Fleegle]

There are also pleasant, polite addicts. Sadly, the one tends to turn into the other at the hint of a problem.

Exactly. I have, over the years, done my utmost to facilitate literally hundreds of addicts but sadly to no avail. Most of them, as far as I know, are dead or still addicted. I have seen prescriptions for methadone mixture, diamorphine ampoules, morphine ampoules, cyclimorph, valoid, needles, syringes, physeptone (both tabs and elixir), temgesic, DF118 (both tabs and elixir), diazepam, temazepam (including the gelthix caps which caused embolisms when heated and injected), pethidine, chloral hydrate, heminevrin etc. etc. in the attempt by prescribers to deal with the problem of heroin addiction. Not once have I seen a successful outcome. Stand-alone clinics with their own dispensary, or even a mobile dispensary situated in a secure vehicle are the only way to deal with this...a 'one-stop shop'. It works relatively well in Holland, I believe.

Fleeg.

[Defblade]

It is a little easier being a bloke - it must be intimidating if you're a 4'2" female assistant...

Working in my first proper job in the rough end of Bristol, I had a lady who was about 4' 10". If the shoplifter was off too fast, the first I'd know about them sometimes was her hanging out the front door shouting "are you going to come back here and bloody pay for that or what!!"

[mandy]

Thank you all for your comments, the boss is now back on board, (from his nice holiday away), the phone thing we have 3 phones in our shop 1 on the shop floor and 2 in the dispensary, the addicted that threatened me is well and truly been barred, his drug worker and doctor has been informed of his behavior and a letter sent to his home address stating he should never enter the premises again, but guess what the day he received the letter he sends his child in for his wife's script while he stands outside, The px is for 21 Amoxicillin 500mg, the child is only 5yrs old do we dispense it or not???

Well I didn't as my boss was away (again) on Monday and i told the locum the guy that was out sided was barred and told him why and now we have been reported.

Can i just ask when i was doing my NVQ 2 not no were in the course was an age restriction of a child bringing or picking up a dispensed px, anyone know of an age restriction? as i think this is all i have to cover my back.

[Defblade]

Tricky one.... I don't think there is a legal minimum age; to a certain extent each case should be judged on its own merits; in this case with the father stood outside, I think there would be very little chance of the child having problems. But that's a matter of judgement, not of fact or law. In fact the law would lean to your side...

....In the bad old days, I would take scripts from barred people at the door and give them out at the door, as we weren't allowed to refuse NHS services. Under the new contract, we are allowed to refuse services when a patient commits a crime or we believe they will (which is pretty open looked at one way, and impossible to defend looked at another!!).

It's this point that is strongest for you - even though the father is trying to present a script for his wife (is she barred or likely to do something naughty?) you are almost certainly within your rights both to refuse to provide the dispensing service to a child (medicines safety) and also to the father (barred).

With the info given, the only person you could serve at the moment is the wife.

I'm assuming it's the barred customer who has reported you. Violent and abusive patients can be added to a list by the PCT which prevents them accessing most NHS services - for example, they can only see a GP by attending a police station to visit the FMO there. If he's trying to further abuse you by attempting to get round the rules via his child and then complaining through the system, I would continue to use the system myself to limit his ability to cause trouble.

Who has he reported you to?

Anyway, stick to your guns and don't take any rubbish about how your withdrawal of service will cause him hardship - he should have thought of that before he got himself barred. (I believe the appropriate phrase is "don't s**t on your own doorstep".)

[johnep]

We had several addicts who received all their requirements outside the door. In the large mall at CMK, most were also banned from the centre itself. They had to be escorted by security from outside and upto the counter.
johnep

[dizzyb23]

Ha Johnep
The security person escorting these fab folks from the mall was usually me!!!! Small world.....

[Defblade]

pointless post now spam's deleted

[vanquish s]

I have thankfully seen scene a fair amount of succes stories with our methadone clinic. In the past year we have had 5 come off.

However i have also had a few scuffs. Its ok makes the day mor einteresting. But believe me this is where a combat background and gym workouts come in use. Especially considering i am the only male where i work.
I would seriously advise anyone who is a health care professional or deals with the public to gain some martial training. I have been doing it for 12 years. Unfortuantely i cannot be nun chuka in the dispensary lol

[Pharmanaut]

I have thankfully seen scene a fair amount of succes stories with our methadone clinic. In the past year we have had 5 come off.

However i have also had a few scuffs. Its ok makes the day mor einteresting. But believe me this is where a combat background and gym workouts come in use. Especially considering i am the only male where i work.
I would seriously advise anyone who is a health care professional or deals with the public to gain some martial training. I have been doing it for 12 years. Unfortuantely i cannot be nun chuka in the dispensary lol

Just put up a modified sign.
"Repsonsible Ninja Pharmacist" <g>

A firm "Behave or Leave" does the job when you say their name first.

[vanquish s]

Yep maybe i should. Yep generally it does the job. Otherwise they know there will be no methadone