Forum Topic

A nice thing happened at the pharmacy.

Went to Mattock Lane pharmacy to collect my pre-ordered medication and the assistant asked if the pharmacist could speak to me. Surprised, I said OK and moments later the pharmacy proprietor asked me to go into his consulting room for a private talk. I thoght he was going to give me a warning or similar, but he simply asked if I had any questions about my medication. Pleasantly surprised I asked a few basic questions, which were answered with care and attention. I've never experienced this before and left the pharmacy with quiet satisfaction and confidence. Thoroughly recommend this modern pharmacy in St John's Parade next to the church. Just thought forum users should know.

Gerry Tan ● 4218d19 Comments

My old Gran, gawd bless her once complained of the 'special effects' of the tablets she was given.

Keith Iddon ● 4217d

Agreed Nigel. It has absolutely nothing to do with training pharmacist. Registered pharmacitss have to pass an additional training course to qualify to undertake reviews. Another benefit is to find out if people are ordering repeat prescriptions of medicines they are not taking as prescribed.

Graham Weeks ● 4217d

Well bully for you.Some elderly people take multiple doses of medication and often forget to take it. Simply 'catching up with them' is an additional vital safety net and I don't understand your cynicism.

Nigel Brooks ● 4217d

Of course I know what I'm taking and am taking the correct dosage! If I'd had side effects: again, I would tell my GP. This is just some form of training for pharmacists which they want you to comply with whether you want to or not.

Susan Kelly ● 4217d

The pharmacist review is not the same as the GP. It is to see if you know what you are taking, are you complying with correct dosage? Have you experienced side effects? The pharmacist should be able to tell of possible interactions so may ask you about non-prescription medicines you take.As I wrote before. They may be set targets by the NHS. More pernicious are targets companies set their managers to complete. Not all pharmacies do them but  the NHS dangles the carrot of rewards for reviews.

Graham Weeks ● 4217d

Sorry to sound grumpy but I'm not convinced by this 'service'. If I have questions about my meds, I ask my GP at our bi-annual review. I have been pestered by pharmacists a number of times to come for these 'little chats' and some of them don't want to take no for an answer. I think they may be required to do a certain number of them each year.

Susan Kelly ● 4217d

I think Hiten bought Mansell's on the main road. He later bought the Post Office franchise form next door, eventually closing that  pharmacy. I managed Mattock Lane form 93 to 98. Previously it was a home brew shop which facility continues in the pharmacy. I think Hiten, not Mr Mansell opened the Mattock lane pharmacy.

Graham Weeks ● 4217d

"...I like it when someone 'goes the extra mile'..."Agreed Nigel, the extra is always good service and very welcome.

Gerry Tan ● 4217d

Thanks Nigel, I got a tad confused re names. Both pharmacists are a credit to the neighbourhood.

Gerry Tan ● 4217d

Thanks Graham for putting me straight in my slight mistake re Nigel's name for the other pharmacist - Mr Hitan Patel is the new Mattock Lane Pharmacist - both good men I'm sure. If I remember correctly, you used to work at Mattock Lane and before that I knew the owner a long time ago. Whatever their names, I appreciate the 'extra mile' they give in customer service. Thanks again.

Gerry Tan ● 4217d

The Mattock Lane proprietor is Hitan Patel. Patient medicine reviews are an optional pharmacy  service which is remunerated by the NHS. Results will be shared with your GP but there is no formal link to reviews done by the GP. Collection and delivery is a competition based service to get your business. It has no direct remuneration. My advice is support your local pharmacy. Avoid like the plague any offers of an internet service with postal delivery. The personal care and trust will have cpmpleteley gone. Personally I would avoid any pharmacy that did not offer you a cheaper generic sale rather than your expensive requested brand.

Graham Weeks ● 4217d

Dilip has done this for years and used to collect and deliver prescriptions for my mother. As she passed away in 1996 I don't think that a current consultation would 'sway' him one  way or the other. He also used to offer me advice, as her carer, on the best way to use some of the products.I like it when someone 'goes the extra mile'.

Nigel Brooks ● 4217d

Fantastic to hear. However, it wouldn't be a amiss to suggest that this may have something to do with the council currently consulting on the level of services at pharmacies throughout the borough.Go onto the council website: click on A-Z, Consultations, Current consultations and you will find it.From memory, one has until next Friday to respond. As you can probably guess I have done mine.

Ben Owen ● 4217d

Gerry, to avoid confusion. Dilip Mehta is the owner and senior pharmacist (of the four pharmacists) at Northfield Pharmacy at 30 Northfield Avenue.http://www.northfieldpharmacy.co.uk/

Nigel Brooks ● 4218d

Thank you Sarah and Simon, I hadn't experienced this before - I was thoroughly impressed and pleased with this amount of customer care. Things are more pleasant than I expectwed.

Gerry Tan ● 4218d

Thanks Nigel, so his name's Dilip - he was telling me that his wife is a nurse at a local hospital in a cardiac type ward. He explained to me in my surprise consultation that his fairly new pharmacy hass a 'state-of-the-art' storing system for medicine stock and all fittings are new and untra-modern - and the shop looks great - better than the previous pharmacist's premises.Agree with you, Mr Dilip is a thoroughly good char - a credit to our neighbourhood.

Gerry Tan ● 4218d

This is common practice these days. I had this at Boots in Ealing a while back

Simon Bell ● 4218d

I think this would be a normal revue of your medication if you have a repeat prescription.If they hadn't done it your doctor's surgery would have asked you to come in.

Sarah Vickers ● 4218d

Dilip and his team at Northfield Pharmacy offer the same service and he will often collect my prescription from my GP and drop it off to me on the way home.Thoroughly nice chap and he will often tell you not to buy the 'branded' cures but the generic versions which are, form his experience, just as effective and often pounds cheaper.

Nigel Brooks ● 4218d