Interrogation has me fuming!

[Steff]

Had to visit the chemist this morning to pick up some pills, went in got my tablets and then was asked if i could hang on for a moment,yeah ok, pharmacist went off to click away on the computer came back and started asking me exactly how many times i test, how many needles i get through etc etc, er put on the spot was not the word so i go on to tell her and then she says to me we notice you have had quite a few pots of strips in the last 12 month infact you have had 2 in the last 5 months😱,wow im thinking is that really such a big deal?? she said on average your pot of 50 should be lasting a month to 2 months I went on to say to her if im having a particularly bad day i will test 4 times my usual routine is 3,if im poorly i may go to 5, she said well its best to stick to no more then 3! is this woman for real! at the end of the day she dispenses medicine she is not a professional in any way shape or form diabetes wise, so i came home and im on making a rough copy of a letter of complaint i feel really put out and angry.!!

 

[Lauren]

Grrr when will people understand that everyone's Diabetes is different and some people test more than others?! And that it is a GOOD thing to test regularly?!!!
And she is a pharmacist!!!

 

[AndyS]

Hi Steff

That's absolutely disgusting. I would have asked her to return the prescription and taken it elsewhere.

I get 2 x 50 test strips a month on prescription. My Diabetic nurse has asked me to test prior to injecting insulin which I do 4 times a day. Being honest I don't really know what to do with the results, only what I have picked up on here and trial and error over the years.

If she did the maths, I don't get enough test strips a month, 7 x 4 = 28 a week plus I drive as part of my job visiting various offices throughout the UK.

My local pharmacist tried quizzing me about testing a couple of months ago, my reply was along the lines of "are you qualified to adjust or justify treatment in diabetes?" if not and your trying to tell me what to do, can I have my prescription back, I would rather go elsewhere.

I'm turning into Albert Steptoe 🙂 bleughhhhhhhhh

Regards

Andy

 

[MargB]

50 strips a pot, 2 pots in 5 months - what is the problem? Or did you mean weeks?

Was it the pharmacist asking questions because they are trained and on quite a few drugs are more up to date than a GP. Hope you were being asked all this in a side room and not in the general chemist shop.

 

[KateXXXXXX]

I don't think Himself has ever had a problem getting test strips, except when he didn't get a new meter and the older test strips were getting harder to find. I think the pharmasist told him he needed the newer meter. But that was several years ago.

 

[novorapidboi26]

at the end of the day she dispenses medicine she is not a professional in any way shape or form diabetes wise

Exactly, if anyone wants to give you grief it should be your doctor........

 

[AJLang]

How dare a pharmacist quiz you on how often you test your BGs - it is the doctor who decides how much you should be prescribed. I am fuming on your behalf

 

[Donald]

Well done for writing a letter of complaint that is not on. I'm under the impression that only a Medical professional(ie Doctor or consultant) can review and change Your Meds.A pharmacist can give advice on different meds and interactions.Hope You get this this sorted

 

[robert@fm]

She may be trained as a pharmacist but her arithmetic doesn't seem very good -- if a tub of test strips is supposed to last a month or two months then two tubs in five months is pretty good going. 🙄 I've been instructed to test twice a day (fasting and at a varying time during the day) so one tub currently lasts me 25 days, 3 and a half weeks.

 

[casey]

That is disgraceful Steff, i am so angry on your behalf. Glad you are writing a letter of complaint, it is not the pharmacists job to question your usage of strips.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Steffie

It wasn't a Boots was it? ISTR someone talking about a dodgy pharmacy experience recently (I think it was on here).

Did you notice DanW's post in Toby's thread where he had to endure a similar grilling at a pharmacy. Maybe some industry rag or other has published an article entitled, '10 ways to lose your most profitable customers by filling them with uncontrollable rage'?

M

 

[Steff]

50 strips a pot, 2 pots in 5 months - what is the problem? Or did you mean weeks?

Was it the pharmacist asking questions because they are trained and on quite a few drugs are more up to date than a GP. Hope you were being asked all this in a side room and not in the general chemist shop.

Definetly 5 months,it was the pharmacist yeah think she runs the chemist but not to sure,she took me to one side but not into a room i was away from the counter at least

Steffie

It wasn't a Boots was it? ISTR someone talking about a dodgy pharmacy experience recently (I think it was on here).

Did you notice DanW's post in Toby's thread where he had to endure a similar grilling at a pharmacy. Maybe some industry rag or other has published an article entitled, '10 ways to lose your most profitable customers by filling them with uncontrollable rage'?

M

I had not noticed dan's post no thanks for pointing that out so it shows its not jsut type 2s getting the third degree.



Thanks everyone ive tryed to get i touch with my GP see what she says on the matter but she is not about atm but will be ringing me back at some point.Ive just beaten the cushion up so least my frustration is a little less now

 

[lucy123]

Steffie

It wasn't a Boots was it? ISTR someone talking about a dodgy pharmacy experience recently (I think it was on here).

Did you notice DanW's post in Toby's thread where he had to endure a similar grilling at a pharmacy. Maybe some industry rag or other has published an article entitled, '10 ways to lose your most profitable customers by filling them with uncontrollable rage'?

M

Hi Yes it was me had a slightly similar experience in Boots. I can't find how to insert my post link here - but I was 'detained' for about 40 mins in total, asked some personal questions I am not normally asked, and all in public too. It looks like something is changing in how the Pharmacists deal with us. Be sure to complain Steff.

 

[randomange]

Definetly 5 months,it was the pharmacist yeah think she runs the chemist but not to sure,she took me to one side but not into a room i was away from the counter at least


I had not noticed dan's post no thanks for pointing that out so it shows its not jsut type 2s getting the third degree.

p.s it was Lloyds.

Thanks everyone ive tryed to get i touch with my GP see what she says on the matter but she is not about atm but will be ringing me back at some point.Ive just beaten the cushion up so least my frustration is a little less now

I stopped using a Lloyds a while back because of something similar - I was asked how many times a day I tested and why did I test then etc. She didn't tell me that I shouldn't be going through so many strips, but I was really uncomfortable getting such a grilling in front of other customers - it really made me feel like I had done something wrong! I started going to Boots after that, and so far I haven't had a problem.

 

[donnarob]

Hei Steff,

No wonder your blood is boiling, mine would be too! That is an absolute disgrace and I've a feeling it's all to do with this Gov's penny pinching and pulling in the reigns in areas of the NHS.

I've said this and I've said it again, how on earth are you able to gauge what your levels are if you don't test, test, test? It's almost like saying you got yourself into this mess, we are going to control you from now on! Or am I being a bit paranoid?

I now have an exemtion card over here in Norway which means that I get my prescriptions free. You pay for all medical expenses, including prescriptions until you've paid equivalent of ?180 then after you've paid that, the rest of the year's medical expenses are free. Because of my recent diagnosis, I have had a smear test, mammograms, 2 x hba1c tests, eye test, and numerous prescriptions for Met and test strips. The last prescription I got 8 pots of test strips and paid nothing.

I would argue and counter argue again the need for frequent testing. Testing to me, is my security blanket. If I know that I'm getting good results, I feel far more positive about my condition and get on with my life.

There's so much negativity out there and maybe we should try and turn things around ourselves?

Donna

 

[Northerner]

It does rather appear that this is a directive from above, attempting to reduce strip use without a doctor having to bother his/her pretty little head about it. It will be interesting when I go for my next prescription (to a Boots)...I certainly won't listen to anyone other than a consultant or DSN telling me when and how many times to test (and then they'd have a very hard time convincing me!).

 

[AlisonM]

I'm averaging two to three pots of 50 per month and the chemist has never questioned it. I had a long chat with him (in a side room) over the pen problem and we went through exactly what I was doing and how I was managing things. He reckoned I was doing exactly right, with the testing and everything.

If a pharmacist had started quizzing me in public, I'd have told them where to get off. Unless you wish to discuss things with them, you are perfectly well within your rights to tell them it's not their business and to butt out.

I had my latest prescription from Lloyd's on Friday with no quibbles.

 

[Caroline]

It is up to the doctor how much you are prescribed. Our pharmacist is pretty good and if he thinks our doctor (who is useless anyway) has got it wrong he will phone the doctor and have it out with him rather than me.

 

[AnnW]

2 pots of 50 a month! Lucky you 🙂 I have one to last me 6 months and the doc has taken it off my prescription, I have to ask my D nurse- October I see her

 

[cazscot]

What a b****y (sorry about the language) disgrace Steffie, no wonder you are fuming! I would be to 😡. Yes they are professionals in that they are pharmacists but their main job is to make sure that your drugs dont interact with anything and for "minor" ailments, as you say Steffie they are not dsns or consultants!

I would definatly write a letter of complaint.