Are Some Pharmacists Just Plain Stoopid?

[admin]

I always try to help people as much as I can, but my point is sometimes they don't make it easy for you. I think we all contact surgeries and chase scripts for people etc. But I would find it impossible for every customer to leave the shop happy, unless I could dispence a line of 20 scripts in under two minutes!

Can someone please take a look in general pharmacy topics and have a look at my clinical pharmacy case. I'd really appreciate some opinions on this.


Thanks

[Pharmanaut]

Originally Posted by Zoggite

afternoon and have a go at you because you won't "sort it out" for them to get some tramadol caps and nitrazepam because they forgot theirs at home, I'd like to see how you get them to leave your shop "happy".
You are not resolving anything by sorting out a particular script, you are merely displacing the problem until next month, because inevitably the surgery won't have amended their records in their computer, just like they didn't last month, or the month before.
I am a Pharmacist, not a Personal Assistant in charge of rectifying the shortcomings of Surgery Staff or forgetful patients.

Sometimes a patients life is a frightening one. We forget this because we will never be 'normal patients' again in our lives. Yes some are disappointed because we cannot help them, the nitrazepam and tramadol are amongst them, but there are ways of handling them without looking like a 'jobs worth'. Putting them on to the correct contact at the weekend etc. I usually say, if you feel you can't manage for a night or two without them contact the walk in clinic etc. One thing we do need is the CP(US) scheme as deployed in Scotland. This would save time and trouble for everyone.

[Zoggite]

The nearest "walk-in" clinic to where I work is ...55 miles away, across the Border, in England!
Refresh my memory, what is this CP(US) scheme deployed in Scotland? I recall an article in the PJ around christmastime about some scheme whereby Scottish Phcists could supply one single months' worth of repeat medication for regular patients, to allow for the festive period and lack of accessibility of surgeries; is this what you are referring to? Does anyone out there have any experience to share about this scheme?

[Pharmanaut]

http://www.pjonline.com/pdf/news/pj_...cysupplies.pdf

Check the link for the Scottish CP(US) scheme.

A few years ago I sat in the dispensary during the lunch our (we used to close!) musing why we didn't have a prescription form to issue 'emergency supplies' and also to write telephoned prescriptions on. Scotland have covered the emergency supply.
For regular patients this would be easy, as we could see from PMR if they had actually run out (theoretically). If the patient was not local we could ask to see an empty container, or 'the record side of the prescription'. Could exclude all CD except for Phenobarb. Patient signs exemption or pays script charge. PPA sends copies to GP, PPA writes to patients who 'overuse' service. GP deputising and hospital-out patients are no longer full of folk who have run out of medication. If item unusual/not stocked, allow pharmacist to telephone script to another pharmacy. Everyone is happy!

... then it was time to open the shop and as it was tuesday afternoon (no surgery until 5:30) time to do the generics and PI order.

[Pharmanaut]

...Please, anyone from Scotland with experience of the system, two paces forward - march and let us know your views.

[admin]

Hi Everyone

The shop I mention in the first post has just had a young Polish lad placed there. It's such a stressful shop I once had the girl on the front counter having a panic attack from the abuse she kept getting. She couldn't stop crying, and it takes me all my experience to keep myself calm.

So they put a young guy in who's first language isn't even English!

If he's not left, or had a heart attack by the end of the month I'll eat my new Koi for tea!

He cost £200 so it could be an expensive tea!

[Zoggite]

with a bit of luck, his working knowledge of English will be poor enough to avoid him understanding the verbal abuse headed his way...

[admin]

Zo

He speaks Japanese!

[Zoggite]

And how exactly will that help him in Yorkshire, apart from the fact he'll be able to understand your £200- Koi's pleas for mercy!

[admin]

Zo

Well I happen to speak Japanese a bit myself.........

Ok, just the fish bits........

It's a bit like art, you either appreciate it or you don't!

I'm going to send you a photo of him over the weekend!