Emergency supply

[bobbin]

>>>how likely is the patient to go to the doctor if the inhaler is not supplied? if she tries to book an appointment, it might not be until a week later if she is lucky

If I knew that she had been able to book an appointment next week for a review, I would be much more comfortable doing an ES. If she hadn't even tried to contact the doctor, I would be concerned.

>>>great IMMEDIATE risk to a person's health?

You don't know that to be the case. The surgery might be happy to do an emergency prescription and book an appointment in a few days time. Unless the surgery had been contacted, you wouldn't know.

If the patient had contacted the doctor and been told that it wouldn't be possible to obtain a prescription *or* see a doctor for several days, I would do an ES. If mutiple ESs had been given recently, I would inform the surgery because I think it's important that they know.

[SolomonQ]

Bobbin i respect your views but:

"If I knew that she had been able to book an appointment next week for a review,I would be much more comfortable doing an ES. If she hadn't even tried to contact the doctor, I would be concerned"
Standard answer to any enquiry: "I tried but I cant get in until next week" ( imagine in vicky polard voice)

"You don't know that to be the case. The surgery might be happy to do an emergency prescription and book an appointment in a few days time. Unless the surgery had been contacted, you wouldn't know."

If you think that, you must work in a really nice part of the country, with alot of surgeries you know what their answer will be (48 hours etc...) and end of the day you'll be just causing the patient further distress.

End of the day as a pharmacist YOU are right but as a COMMUNITY pharmacist "i" am right Unfortunately I am paid to be a community pharmacist.

[bobbin]

>>If you think that, you must work in a really nice part of the country, with a lot of surgeries you know what their answer will be (48 hours etc...) and end of the day you'll be just causing the patient further distress.

It sometimes depends which receptionist answers the phone. RE. the patient being in distress, the patient in question was not breathless, and so presumably not in distress. Under the circumstances, a phone call to the surgery would surely be feasible.

>>End of the day as a pharmacist YOU are right but as a COMMUNITY pharmacist "i" am right Unfortunately I am paid to be a community pharmacist.

Sure, I get it, I'm mean. Actually, I'm not, I'm just not as easily 'taken for a ride' as some. I will certainly do my best to help people where necessary.

[SolomonQ]

So what do you normally when the patient is blatantly telling you a lie in an ES situation. i.e. they do need the inhaler but they can't be arsed seeing the doctor. Should you be a better "friend" to her then she is to herself?

[bobbin]

So what do you normally when the patient is blatantly telling you a lie in an ES situation. i.e. they do need the inhaler but they can't be arsed seeing the doctor.

At my usual workplace, the doctors are next door so I wouldn't normally supply during the week unless it was an emergency. Saturdays are different.

[hibernia]

So what do you normally when the patient is blatantly telling you a lie in an ES situation.

You are a pharmacist not a judge and jury. We are not in the business of telling truth from lies. Unless you have evidence, as opposed to your opinion (no matter how well founded that opinion is) you have to accept what you are told.
That doesn't mean that you have to supply. Like bobbin, I have a 'no emergency supplies or loans during surgery hours' policy. On occassion I make exceptions, e.g if a patient has suffered a berevement or has a family member in hospital or the like, but if someone can't be bothered to order a script then I can't be bothered to put myself out either.

[Defblade]

You are a pharmacist not a judge and jury. We are not in the business of telling truth from lies.

Hmmm.... I don't let people take the p**s either. Anyone who when told they can't have something for whatever reason who then says "Well then, in that case it's for me [or whatever] instead" gets VERY short shrift from me. If they then wish to go somewhere else and start off with the lie that's their choice. Doubtless I have some do that to me too. But there comes a point where you can't save people from themselves... and it's usually down to laziness/convenience (or addiction, but that's another thread (and something I've just refused a sale on while typing this!!!)).


In pharmacy, the customer is NOT always right.... and part of the job has always been to sort truth from lies at some level - otherwise we might as well move many/most P lines (and POMs while we're talking about regular emergency supplies) to GSL. I do my job the best I can. If given the chance I'll explain my reasons.... but I'm usually too busy being shouted/sworn at for daring to inconvenience someone....

[bobbin]

Like bobbin, I have a 'no emergency supplies or loans during surgery hours' policy.

I do ES during surgery hours if it really is an emergency, but it rarely is.

[johnep]

Very often sent in by the receptionist because they are too busy.
johnep