Open Dispensaries

[admin Forum Creator Find all posts View Profile Close admin]

I was working on Monday, in a very busy pharmacy that was adjacent to the GP surgery. There was an open space from the Dr's waiting room to the pharmacy, so you could see not only our customers, but the ones waiting to see their GP.

All I ever feel at these type of places are the stares of people, all day long. A friend of mine once met me from work (a different pharmacy) and commented on how he felt it was very intimadating having all these people glare at you, and he was only there for the last five minutes!

I personally can only deal with these open pharmacies by not making eye contact with anybody, unless they want to speak to me or I need to tell them something. So I basically work with my head down all day long.

Do these places bother other people or is it just me? I think they are the worst idea I have ever seen, and can only think the people who "invented" them never work in the places.

As well as the stares you can of course hear all the comments people say. Again I try to just cut his out of my mind, because if I ever do say anthing back like "I'm sorry you are having to wait, but we are very busy" there's a 50:50 chance that they'll start shouting at or threatening me.

I really would like to hear the opinions of other people who work in these open pharmacies. I have been going to them for years now, so I know it is not a case of "you'll get used to them" or such like. Do they bother other people or is it just me?

[Linnear Registered Pharmacist Find all posts View Profile Close Linnear]

The Supermarket pharmacy I work in has the labelling computer almost behind the counter. Over the years I've developed a knack for labelling without looking even half a degree towards the counter. :lol:

I don't like the open plan pharmacies. I always feel like putting up a sign "Please do not feed the pharmacist!"

I always wonder where you stand on confidentiality etc. when everyone can watch you dispensng Viagra etc.

As for the new idea of dispensing while the customer watches you. What happens if you pick up the wrong packet by accident? It happens all the time but is picked up before dispensing, but it will certainly cause trouble if someone sees it.

In my view open plan dispensarys are definitely a bad idea.

[Zoggite Simply Ze Best! Find all posts View Profile Close Zoggite]

labelling & picking!?!

what on earth are you doing picking drugs off shelves and working at labelling computers? have you never heard of dispensing staff?
(see, I can be a cynic too, just like the rest of you!)

[admin Forum Creator Find all posts View Profile Close admin]

Pharmacists Dispensing

Zoggite

Boy you do have a nice job! I have to label, dispense and check stuff on my own lots of the time! There is often only one staff member in the dispensary, and that's me!

OK I worked at one like that last week, and I only did 160 items, but on your own it can seem like a lot. Especially when the dot matrix label printer keeps going on the blink, and you couldn't even get five quid for it on ebay!

On the confidentiality front I have worked at some stores where you do dispense right in front of the customer. The general idea was Viagra was done in the back, but I often wondered about other drugs. Would you want the whole world knowing you took Prozac (not that that's anything to be ashamed of) well I wouldn't. The staff said nobody complained. You also had the trouble of errors, I used to say to the technician "would you like to look at that again". Sometimes, especially when we used big tubs of drugs, people would pick up the pot of 500 niitrazepam tablets and say "they are mine". All good fun hey!

I had been doing a fairly regular day for a nice young guy from somewhere in Africa (sorry didn't like to ask him where). I went there about two weeks ago and found he's left. Seems some methadone addict lost his temper and threw bottles of stuff at him. He called the police but was too afraid to make a statement, the staff told me. He just left, as he was so scared. The company should have been more honest with him. The general feeling talking to staff/manager was he was a "bit of a wimp". It seems you have to be a kung fu expert now!

By the way, seriously, I have learned some good self defence moves. The "swan-neck" is a great one, if you can get it on. I have had two people in this position, and one of them it took three coppers to get her in the van! Yet I had her on the floor for ten minutes before they arrived. I have a few more up my sleeve, so if anyone wants to start a thread on self defence moves I can add a few, and would always like to know more of course.

By the way we aren't cynics, just realists. I spent often 2 to 3 hours taking my turn labelling, 1 or 2 hours dispensing, and the rest of the day checking. Do you wonder why I am bored to my back teeth? All the companies I work for have an absolute minimum of staff on duty, and that's not allowing for sickness or holidays. I cannot think of the last time I spent not labelling and dispensing at least for some of the day. Do you never do these things?

[Linnear Registered Pharmacist Find all posts View Profile Close Linnear]

Re: labelling & picking!?!

what on earth are you doing picking drugs off shelves and working at labelling computers? have you never heard of dispensing staff?
(see, I can be a cynic too, just like the rest of you!)

I'm shocked and stunned! :wink:

I had you on such a pedestal! A pharmacist that enjoys her work and now I feel so let down! :lol:

[Pari Loyal Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pari]

Re: Open Dispensaries

All I ever feel at these type of places are the stares of people, all day long.
I personally can only deal with these open pharmacies by not making eye contact with anybody, unless they want to speak to me or I need to tell them something. So I basically work with my head down all day long.

dear Admin I am working in one fo those open pharmacies and I have the same feeling as you. and you can add these all to this story: I am woman you know, and the Hijab-the style of Islamic wear for women- in Iran is obligatory.(the introduction part :lol: ) I was working in a pharmacy next to a phsycologists and psychotherapist. and we just had all sorts of prescriptions for these sort of patients! just imagine when a patient ordered me to put my Hijab in the correct way, because he just could see some of my hair!!! Imagine how I got angry and how I could stop him!!! and so many unique trobbles!!!
I bet none of you had such experinces at all and would never have one!

[admin Forum Creator Find all posts View Profile Close admin]

Cultural Differences

Pari

One of the things I like about the internet is you can make new friends from different cultures. I have never of course had such an experience, and it is interesting to hear your side of these types of things!

I think I would have taken it off and rapped it round his head, and said "stop - I can see your hair - how do you like that!"

I know in practice that is probably not a good idea. It is like the alcohol question, when you said it wasn't a thing you were ever asked. I have been asked about alcohol and drugs hundreds of times, yet nobody has ever complained they could see my hair! It's a strange world hey?

I know a few muslim women here in the UK, and they don't wear anything over their hair. Some others wear a loose scarf, but you can still see their hair. Why can't you show your hair? If you took all your clothes off, most men would not be looking at your hair, so what's the deal with the hair? Over here most men like to describe themselves as leg men, or breast men, or whatever other bits they like men, but I never heard of a hair man. Is this in the Koran? And also why can men show their hair and women can't?

I'd better stop. My femanist head is coming on...... :twisted:

[Pari Loyal Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pari]

Dear Admin, he was psychopathic so I just could not react in your suggestion! and I feel like you too, these are my questions but I alreadyfound my answers, we can discuss the somewher else!! :wink: but I put this comment like a joke (although it was real)
I realise this is like any other physical attacks made by customer.

[Piquetero Registered Pharmacist Find all posts View Profile Close Piquetero]

In Italy all the pharmacies are open dispensaries! :evil: And if the business hours are 8,we pass 6 of them dispensing! In the former pharmacy I worked I couldn't sit down to rest cause the customers could have had a bad impression of the pharmacy in the owner's thought! :? We don't have methadone addictsand needle exchange programs but I prefer these 2 things and stay labelling on a computer than that middle-age torture! And I want to work in the pharmacy managed by Zoggite!It seems a paradise on earth!

[Pharmanaut Newly registered in 1981 Find all posts View Profile Close Pharmanaut]

Open Plan Dispensaries

These are great aren't they.
Had a prescription handed to me and told the patient it would be 10 minutes. Then resumed work on the prescription in progress. Went to pick a drug of the shelves when the patient shouts, "That's wrong - they aren't my tablets". Diplomatically I replied, "Yes you are correct, your prescription is the next one".

It is hard to take a break as well. All eyes are on you especially if you sit down. How can you be working if you're sat down?

Open plan is bad. Dispensing antibiotics in full view is fine, but what about personal stuff, such as OCs, HRT, pessaries and other things that require privacy.

Having loads of people watching you and willing you to work faster just adds to the stress.

[admin Forum Creator Find all posts View Profile Close admin]

Open Dispensaries

Pharmanaut

I couldn't agree with you more. I think we have all has a customer like the one you describe. The general opinion on here seems to be that people don't like them!

:evil:

[Hot topic Registered Pharmacist Find all posts View Profile Close Hot topic]

However sometimes open dispensaries give one an oppurtunity to talk with the patient about their drugs whilst dispensing although patient confidentiality and avoiding errors can be an issue. Depending on what mood I am in I sometimes like it. Its almost like being on stage - the show must go on and all that. The best ones are where you can hide if you like.

[kl06229 King Amongst Members Find all posts View Profile Close kl06229]

Re: Open Plan Dispensaries

A lot of the multiples have open dispensaries in their stores. My general rule is that sensitive items e.g. viagra; and controlled drugs are dispensed and checked in the back. This is not only to allow for fewer distractions but also to reduce chances of someone plucking the drug from the dispensary and making a runner. Not happened so far, but did have an odd lady help herself to some eye drops when I had my back turned.

[Shop Designer Brilliant Member Find all posts View Profile Close Shop Designer]

Re: Open Dispensaries

Interesting thread!!

Pharmacy design falls into two distinct camps, direct and in-direct in basics. We in the UK prefer indirect, behind a counter, behind a flyshelf behind a bench, way in the back out of sight away from all human contact,,,,,,,,,
How sad is that? Sorry but it it. You are a Very intelligent professional your skills and knowledge are highly prized and respected and if waiting patients look at you it is out of a blind curiosity, no malice or loathing here,,,,

It has been my pleasure to turn round many Pharmacies and at the heart of them is one "entity" YOU! the Pharmacist, no show without Punch and all that, if you make the patient experience a good one they come back if you shy away and hide you are a faceless entity less likely to engender loyalty.

I'd go so far as to say I could double many pharmacies script count by altering patient interaction manners across a huge gulf of dispensaries in the UK, far more successfully than with a timber and glass refit

[bobbin Thousand Plus Poster !!! Find all posts View Profile Close bobbin]

Re: Open Dispensaries

How sad is that? Sorry but it it.

Not necessarily. In my opinion, customers have the right to privacy. It should never be possible for customers to see what medication other customers are having dispensed. People do not want anyone to see that they are getting Viagra, antidepressants etc.

I have worked in some dispensaries recently which are like a 'goldfish bowl' and I found them very unprofessional.