GP's Attitudes

[admin]

Hi Everyone

So on Friday I had a guy who comes in regularly to a place I work at most Fridays. His wife has depression and had been on Mirtazapine (Zispin) 30mg daily for a few months.

The nice old guy said the Dr had doubled his wife's dose as she's having a bad time at the moment. My ears immediately "pricked up" as I instantly think to myself "I'm sure the max daily dose for that is 45mg" so I asked him to wait while I checked it out.

The BNF states 45mg daily max (single dose at bedtime/split during the day) so I phoned the company who manufactures Zispin and spoke to their drug information department.

We talked about how 45mg daily is their max licensed and recommended daily dose, but they have had some studies back where 60mg has been used with no problems reported.

I phoned the GP, left a message with his secretary/receptionist (she typed on the PC most of what I said) and about 15mins later I had a phone call back from the secretary/receptionist where I was told to change that dose to 15mg mane and 30mg nocte. I asked if there was a "thanks for doing that for my patient etc etc" kind of message, and she said "no, sorry nothing like that. You'll never get a thanks out of Doctor X. We appreciate you though" - I guess she meant the other secretaries or receptionists.....

So my question my friends, is how do you work closer, develop relationships, influence prescribing and do all these other things that make this an exciting time for pharmacy when you don't even get a simple thanks.

I know I was doing my job.

I know I was helping the patient.

I only had the patients interests at heart.

I am glad he followed my advice.

I learned something I can use for CPD.

BUT.........is a "thanks" too much to ask for............... or do I sound like a complete weak little wimp?

Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Love and kisses from Elaine X X X

[Titch]

No a "thanks" wouldn't be too much to ask.

Not trying to defend GP but working in surgeries 5 days a week has given me some insight into GPs - some of them think that checking doses etc is exactly what we are there for and so we are just doing our job and so do not need any thanks. I regularly spot errors that have come from misinterpreting discharge letters etc and get no thanks for sorting it out - to the GP that is what I'm there to do....

Does get to me some days, especially when I spot a clanger

[Jeff]

So my question my friends, is how do you work closer, develop relationships, influence prescribing and do all these other things that make this an exciting time for pharmacy when you don't even get a simple thanks.

Talk about patients and your concerns - NOT about prescribing mistakes. No-one likes to be told that they are wrong

Ever had a letter from a multiple saying that you made a dispensing error? Did you write back to say thanks for pointing it out?

Jeff

[johnep]

Particularly when label prepared during your shift but dispensed following day. See case report in PDA mag.
johnep

[admin]

Particularly when label prepared during your shift but dispensed following day. See case report in PDA mag.
johnep

What mag - when did you get that John?

[admin]

Talk about patients and your concerns - NOT about prescribing mistakes. No-one likes to be told that they are wrong.
Jeff

I did Jeff - I didn't ring up saying "you've made a mistake". I couldn't get to speak to him and left a message saying I was just checking the dose was what he wanted etc. I rang the company to check my initial thoughts were correct.

What got me thinking about this was someone was trying to get me to apply for one of those PCT pharmacist jobs a couple of weeks ago. I was told they just couldn't get anyone to apply. My point is how can you work with people who won't even say thanks? If a dispenser passes me a packet of paracetamol I say thanks to them, even though I know they are doing their job!

Ever had a letter from a multiple saying that you made a dispensing error? Did you write back to say thanks for pointing it out?

Never had a letter, but I've tried to learn from any I've ever done and changed how I work if I can.

Thanks for the replies - if any of you guys want a PCT job I might know where there's one going...........

Elaine

[johnep]

Insight mag sent to all PDA members. Mainly concerned with stressing that NPA insurance is for the employer not employee.
johnep

[admin]

Insight mag sent to all PDA members. Mainly concerned with stressing that NPA insurance is for the employer not employee.
johnep

Insight? Did that have a bible picture on the front, or something like that?

E

[Zoggite]

Yes, that's the one- I think it was an illustration of David and Goliath's fight...

[admin]

Yes, that's the one- I think it was an illustration of David and Goliath's fight...

Oh that's just great - excellent marketing, having a picture from the bible on the front - that really attracts athiests to take a closer look!

I took one quick look at it, put it in the mental "Watch Tower" slot and binned it along with the other six pieces of junk mail I got that day!