Just Been Quizzed By My Chemist?

[jd_1984]

I went in today to pick up a prescription and the chemist asked me if I could come into the office and answer a couple of questions?
He said it was routine and from time to time he surveys patients about the medication they are being prescribed.
The medication isnt something I am always on, I have been recently prescribed it and it isnt a long term course or anything. He was asking how long I have been on the medication, what is my lifestyle like and general stuff like that. He was a perfectly nice chemist, laid back but informative and seemed to take a real interest.

Is this a random thing and has anybody been quizzed by their chemist before?
It was a new one to me?

[gingejbee]

I'd ask.."how much am I being paid for this information?"
I have actually done this several times when being stopped in the street by people with clip-boards!

[pixie373]

It always surprises me that so many people seem to have no idea which tablets they take, or what they're for. Pharmacists can be great, but I would have thought the person to discuss your prescription with, would be your doctor.

[KristalB]

I would have refused, its none of their business what medication I'm on, my lifestyle etc. They can mind their own bloody business.

[hc4361]

KristalB, it is very much their business if they notice you have been prescribed a new medicine that counteracts with a prescription you are already taking.

They know what medicine you take because they make up the prescriptions.

[KristalB]

hc4361 how would the pharmacist know what a patient was already taking ? -They could get one prescription from one place then next time go to another place. Its the patients GP who has records of what they're taking in front of him when he prescribes a drug -do pharmacists have this information now?

[mintymow]

I have had such a visit, the pharmacist checked on whether I was aware of what medication I was taking was actually for, if I was getting or had had any side effects. Also asked what time of day I was taking them and also recommended I change the time of day for one tablet to ensure it didn't interact with another one. Overall I was very impressed.

[petal54]

part of their job,ment to do an annual check or may stop your scripts.

[mier]

I don't agree with that, petal54. It is a survey and does not have to be undertaken by the customer. Once the doctor has signed the prescription the pharmacist has to dispense the medication.

I have completed such surveys a few times. I always know what my meds are for, their generic term, how and when they should be taken and any foods that I should avoid and why.

[Eve]

I'm on loads of different stuff though one in particular is flagged up and I often get a mini (nice) grilling about how and when I take it, what I do and don't take with it, making sure my blood monitoring for it is up to date and ok. Even though I inject myself with it and get it delivered by courier (you can't get it like that from pharmacies), it still flags up on their system I'm on it.

I get it too when getting some new items on prescription.

I never mind, I'd rather that than they just blindly hand over drugs, particularly potentially dangerous ones, without checking anything.

[daffy654]

I got quizzed by mine several years ago. I was actually very annoyed with her afterwards as she contacted my GP to say I was on the wrong medication for my asthma. My doctor told her in no uncertain terms to 'butt out' as she was not privy to my full medical records and history.

[Maydup]

We have a dispensary at the doctors surgery. You leave the GP's room, walk round to the dispensary and they hand you a bag. They barely speak, except to tell you off if you are not absolutely on the ball with the process!