Generics/Branded products

[womble]

Originally Posted by kemzero

I agree with zoggite
Just take them into the consulting room....pleasantly informing them that you want to talk to them about their meds....it works for me all the time...I do at least 2-3 a day....tried the formal (recommended) way before but it didn't work ..then a colleague showed me the light...and suffice to say I'm churning 'em out!

I agree totally, definitely get a better pick up rate the lighter and more impromptu you make it. Also this allows you to fit in in quieter moments. That said, today I end up having a chat with a gentleman with 5 co-morbidities and really wants help when all the other avenues are already exhausted - makes me feel a bit useless that I am unable to add anything further.

[Zoggite]

I find it very difficult not to err into the "clinical" side of things, when you're asking the patient if their medicine is working, and whether they have any side-effects...
Any hints & tips, anyone?

[JonF]

The reason i left Lloyds was all the pressure to hit targets. Glad MUR's weren't around when i worked for them!! All Lloyds H/O are after is the money, they don't give two hoots about anything else, whatever they may say.

[Raoul]

Originally Posted by JonF

The reason i left Lloyds was all the pressure to hit targets. Glad MUR's weren't around when i worked for them!! All Lloyds H/O are after is the money, they don't give two hoots about anything else, whatever they may say.

[SolomonQ]

it would take atleast double of what lloyds are normally offering for me to be employed by them, the way they behave towards their employees especially the pharmacist and pharmacy staff is despicable, abviously I would not expect anything less from a company whose moto is "Customers First", note the word "customer" it makes apparent what the company is about, not patients but customers.

I and many other people on this forum "complain" about patient, people treating pharmacies like shops, well it's because of companies like Lloyds that, that happens.

Ive locumed for this company and I dont like what I see, and the saying "customer is always right" is an understatement in their case, one customer complaint and your gona be having a phone call from the superintendent's office. It took me a few days of contemplation to grasp the full stupidity of the situation, relating to an a "incident" that occured while I was locuming for Lloyd's. At most I would have expected to have had a call from the area manager, wanting to know the full situation and then if anything offering me the support, instead call from the head office trying to influence me to give out a POM without a Rx, because of a cock up they had made on a previous day. Not allowed to go back to any Lloyds pharmacy under the care of that locum co-ordinator, lost a few bookings also from the same region, all because I operated as a pharmacist.

Also as a locum one has to beware, if anything goes wrong, the staff will blame it on the locum, always, and the relevant people will believe them. The pharmacy staff seem to enjoy this kinda of power, ive heard many comments from some along the lines of "we've made sure they (the locum) never come back here" , also any dispute with the customer, "you're always in the wrong", so if you wanna work in that area you have two choices: go against all you professional and ethical beliefs and comply with the patient or stand your ground and prepare to never work in that area again.

finally, as a pharmacist I would never work for Lloyds, (i'm too dominant and probably end up getting sacked cos i would do what I think best and not give a hoot about the area manager, they give you MUR targets in a pharmacy where you hardly have time to breathe all day), but as a pre-reg I think its fine, they pay decent, the "course" keeps you on your toes, you get to know about all these enhanced services etc..(although they are only doing it for the money), plus you will get to know from experience NOT TO WORK FOR Lloyds!!!!

Anyone got anything on boots?

[Raoul]

one customer complaint and your gona be having a phone call from the superintendent's office.

this shows how they appreciate their customers, i know its annoying but well at least they care. let's face it, our patients are the customers, no one work for free. i agree that we should be able to spot those who should be treated as patients and those who are ust customers.

It took me a few days of contemplation to grasp the full stupidity of the situation, relating to an a "incident" that occured while I was locuming for Lloyd's. At most I would have expected to have had a call from the area manager, wanting to know the full situation and then if anything offering me the support, instead call from the head office trying to influence me to give out a POM without a Rx, because of a cock up they had made on a previous day.

do you mind adding some extra bits? supplying a POM without a script is against the laws and regulations, but remember that 1- it's a good practice to "loan" some tablets for a regular customer( you could tell from the PMR) 2- as far as you work for the patient's best interest, manage to arrange to get a script ASAP, notify the prescriber is needed, then you could simply do it.
3- don't tell this happened during this weekend, while surgery is closed.

again we need the extra bits of information to see what's going on mate


"we've made sure they (the locum) never come back here"
to be honest, i feel those sneaky staff members contribute for 30% of the stress the pharmacist suffer from!
-i.e could we have some checks plz
-i.e the same time, another staff ask for another check while preparing methadone
-i.e another one shouting for a check, the same guy informing you that you have Mr addict waiting for you, and hnd you the phone because someone want to speak to the p'cist
- then the most annoying thing is, they start talking about other locums, when you are there and how terrible they are ( hence you could simply find out what are they going to say about you next day)


they give you MUR targets in a pharmacy where you hardly have time to breathe all day),

as a locum, do you have MUR targets to meet?

but as a pre-reg I think its fine, they pay decent, the "course" keeps you on your toes, you get to know about all these enhanced services etc..(although they are only doing it for the money)

Finally some encouraging advice..... everyone managed to put me down while i was looking forward for Lloyds pre-reg offer! i still did not accept the offer!

Anyone got anything on boots?[/quote]

come on ppl, let's strike boots for a moment!

[SolomonQ]

actual situation:

someone (the staff), lost the dispensed Rx when the patient came in to collect it, also lost the actual Rx, so they try to do it off the PMR and wanna look for the Rx later. I say NO!!! patient doesnt appreciate the situation, complains to the head office!!! and the ball gets rolling.

and its not good practice to "lend" patients tablets, it's actually ILLEGAL, aska few people here they seem to know about the medicines act 1968(?)

[johnep]

'Hunt the script' seems to happen in every pharmacy on a regular basis. If not on PMR then most likely not yet arrived from surgery. I was expecting, and made, couple of loans on Saturday. I do make the pt fill in a form or at least sign for the meds and only where we are to collect script.
johnep

[SolomonQ]

I am in no way condeming anyone for doing so, but let me reiterate for all those people who think its part of pharmacy practice or those who think it must be ok because most pharmacies do it,

"Loaning" of tablets or POM Items is ILLEGAL, if the patient does require the medicine urgently, there are procedures in place i.e. emergency supply,

ofcourse its a generally accepted practice, but still a pharmacist should not feel obliged to do this, especially if it's a locum, because in such situations one can't really adequatly follow through. abviously if the pharmacy seems really organised and the staff are on top of things one would be more lenient, but if the pharmacy's in a mess, and you dont know if the staff will turn up on the next day, you practice accordingly to protect your own back

[Pharmanaut]

Hunt the script on saturday.
Have posted this before but there are a lot of new bodies around so it might raise a chuckle.

Patient : Is my prescription ready?
Ph : Gets name and address and looks for it - sorry he says its not here.
Patient : The receptionist says she would fax it to you.
Ph : Sorry we haven't received the fax.
Patient : Why haven't you received it?