I know how you must feel.  I had a bad day yesterday after trying to collect Ashley’s script.  Last month I handed in his usual three month script and asked for it up front.  When I got home and opened the pharmacy bag up I had just got a months supply and two repeats to be collected.  So I went to collect the second repeat yesterday and spoke to the pharmacist about their error and that I needed the med’s all in advance and this guy was stood there measruing another months supply into pill bottles and saying that he was meant to dispense them like that.  I then said, Ÿes, but in some cases people can get their script all up front and I have before from here.  He then said that usually they did not carry enough stock for three months supply.   So then I said, Ÿes but they generally dispense what they have and note that I am owed some and I can collect the rest a day or so later after you get them.  he then muttered something about dispensing costs not being covered when he dispensed them in this way the same as he did if I were to take what he had and then come back a month later for the pills!  At this stage I had been talking to him for some minutes and I could feel my heckles getting up and tried to remain diplomatic, but I actually felt that he was blaming me for the fact that he did not have the tablets in stock.  That was simple, and I said, "Well you could always tell me at the time I produce the script that you don’t have enough stock, then I can return when you have it all here and collect then--one dispensation and one cost! " However, he seemed perturbed and then said, you know the other month we lost money on stock for something that we ordered in for you because you didn’t use it.  Instantly I knew what he was refering to and I could not get over the gaul of the guy bringing the issue up.

Some months ago I had asked Ashley’s consultant if we could swtich to hydrocortisone suspension as it was able to be measured more accurately as you know.  However, this is not subsidised and you have to apply to the ministry of health for a special excemption certificate.  I handed a form to his Doctor, who gave me a script for suspension which I handed in at the pharmacy.  However,  because I had to wait for the go ahead fromn the ministry of health to approve this I left the script at that.  The Doctor that gave the script had no problem supplying such, but he was averse to Ashley having suspension claiming that suspension was unstable and in his supporting letter to the Ministry of Health said "The Mother had asked that the child be put on suspension, which he felt was an unstable means to relay on where dosing was concerned."   Of course this was like a red flag to a bull," Don’t approve this claim." and the claim was turned down promptly.  Consequently the pharmacists had ordered I believe all the ingredients that he needed (which you can only purchase in bulk!) in order to make the suspension.  (What cracks me up is that he is bleating now about only getting stock in monthly as it is fresher and wants me to believe that a bulk load of something like Hydrocortisone power would have lasted as long as it would!  Or even that as a chemist that has pharmacies nationwide throughout New Zealand--AMCAL--that they are unable to move stocks of stuff around--complete idiot I tell you!) 

To cut a long story short, he was making it out that it was not cost effective for him as a pharmacists to give out Ashleys tablets in three monthly lots because he seemed to be implying that he would get more from dispensing the drug monthly.  At the time I was totally gobsmacked with what he was saying.  I could feel myself getting angry and I was shaking--and then Bruce came in to the pharmacy as he had been waiting outside with the kids.  I could not believe this guy and he seemed to be implying that because it was not cost effective--that I would have to be drip fed the drugs for my child and all because he got more out of it profit wise.  Bruce was gobsmacked because by the time he came in I was so angry I was arguing with the guy and the whole damn shop was looking on.  I said he needed double and triple if he was ill.  He turned round and said,"If he needs double and triple, you should be taking him to the Doctor and can then get another script for extra."  I said yes but I don’t necessarily have to go see the damn Doctor every time my child is ill do I--but he still needs double his medicines because cortisol increases with a cold and illness!  I also said that I had to stand there on a monthly basis dividing the drugs up into comnpartments because of the way he is dosed and that a months supply had to go to the school which meant that I needed two months supply effectively to do that and the spare lots at home for any illness that cropped up.  

It was a complete nightmare.  I hadn’t dealt with the owner of the pharmacy before and I was so upset when I left the place (after telling him "That’s it, I ain’t taking this c**p!") and was in tears.

To cut a long story short, it seems I now have to get Ashley’s scripts from the main town center in Palmerston North as it is obvious that Feilding pharmacists are a bunch of absolute farmers!  No idea at all.  I wouldn’t care but you can never find one open in an emergency anyway and I always have to go to town to pick up a script after hours as there are no late night pharmacists in an emergency.  So basically we changed GP’s a month or so ago to one in town as even if we saw an emergency Doctor here, we would have to drive all the way over to Palmy to get the script!  Absolutely ludicrous!!!  Then they wonder why they are mithered about folks not using their pharmacy enough and little iddy biddy petty quarrels about folks that they their drugs three months up front!   I mean steroids!!!  What a fool!  

Not a good week.  :)  Can one complain to any kid of pharmaceutical association about pharmacists that are like that I wonder, because I am not letting this one drop!

Right finished ranting now--steam off and downloaded.