Pharmacy mistakes

[MickJ]

Our local dispensing Chemist, Pharmacist to quote the modern idiom, has made a few mistakes lately, when dispensing my Father's prescription.

 

Fortunately I have been 'on the ball' and spotted the errors, returning the items for replacement with the correct drug. On one occasion he gave the prescription to another customer and had to go running out of the shop to retrieve them.

 

He looks as though he is past the age of normal retirement and is therefore probably not up to the pressures of a modern Pharmacy with the vast number of drugs now available.

 

The question is, what would you do about the situation.

 

a) Report him to his professional body.

 

Accept the replacement items and say nowt.

 

c) Complain to his superiors and hope they sort the problem.

 

d) Some other action.

 

Bearing in mind that if the mistake goes un-noticed the results could be fatal, depending of course, on the drugs involved.

[Howard 13]

I'd say 'c' because as you say the results could be fatal.

 

If he's not doing the job properly he shouldn't be doing it.

 

HB.

[nursejudy]

You could try your local primary Health Trust or if your chemist is attatched or close to the doctors see the practice manager at the surgery.

judy

[MickJ]

Thanks Judy, had not thought of the Practise Manager. Probably easier to approch than the Primary Health Trust.

[MickJ]

Howard13, on reflection, option 'c' is probably open to an internal cover up by the Pharmacy owners, thus protecting their own backs.

[ayjay]

A or C (or J) has got to be the way to go, BUT, you will need to be very precise with the details of your complaint; dates, times, name of incorrect drug dispensed, etc. etc.

[Vagabond]

Mick J

 

Call up this page

 

http://www.rpsgb.org.uk/complaints.html

 

and follow the procedure outlined - if this problem happens often it would help to get a bit of evidence - eg a photo of the "wrong" drugs you were given before exchanging them for the right ones.

 

The Pharmaceutical Society would almost certainly send one of their inspectors (unannounced) to do some checking up on how the business is run. (well that's how it used to be 50 years ago)

 

It certainly sounds (from what you post) as if this guy should not be in practice.

[Cranfield]

We had a similar problem some years ago and reported it to our Doctor.

We did not realise that other people had complained as well.

The Chemist was replaced shortly after.

[nursejudy]

Mick this is a newish organisation that most gp surgeries have signed up to its very good.... this is not a local one but you will get the idea...i dont know which area you live in...have a look

judy

[Lid]

This is incredibly important thing to get right every time without fail. You must report this person to everyone. The Gp's, his professional body, his superiors and anyone else you can think of.

 

A friend of mine's wife was recently prescribed two drugs, one was an anti inflammatory, but I can't recall the other - it may have been an ordinary pain killer like co-proxamal.

 

Anyway the pharmacist put the labels on the wrong packets. Result - my mate's wife was well and truly messed up.

 

[ 27. February 2005, 10:51 PM: Message edited by: Lid ]