Unethical?

Author
Discussion

WinkleHoff

Original Poster:

750 posts

242 months

Tuesday 23rd July
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My wife took my young daughter to a pharmacists today in a well known UK outlet. She is suffering ear ache. The pharmacist looked at her ear and stated that the problem was wax and it will need clearing. He said to my wife that he can do this from his home "clinic". He also dropped in that he offers 'botox" at his home clinic.

My wife then went to the GP who took one look and said its infected, nothing to do with wax.

This has surely got to be wrong on so many levels. Offering private unregulated services when employed as a pharmacist. He would have made my daughters ear worse for a start. And then there is patient safety and abuse of position.

I feel this is deeply unprofessional and needs reporting. Surely?


billbring

236 posts

190 months

Tuesday 23rd July
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Yes, without a doubt I would report it to his employer.

Badda

2,900 posts

89 months

Wednesday 24th July
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Might be worth reporting to HCPC too.

ucb

1,040 posts

219 months

Wednesday 24th July
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WinkleHoff said:
My wife took my young daughter to a pharmacists today in a well known UK outlet. She is suffering ear ache. The pharmacist looked at her ear and stated that the problem was wax and it will need clearing. He said to my wife that he can do this from his home "clinic". He also dropped in that he offers 'botox" at his home clinic.

My wife then went to the GP who took one look and said its infected, nothing to do with wax.

This has surely got to be wrong on so many levels. Offering private unregulated services when employed as a pharmacist. He would have made my daughters ear worse for a start. And then there is patient safety and abuse of position.

I feel this is deeply unprofessional and needs reporting. Surely?
The previous government are very happy with this approach to practice as it avoids investing appropriately in medical care. Plenty of tales such as this one on the doctors forums.
Offering your own.private services in this circumstance is certainly deeply unprofessional.

Deranged Rover

3,778 posts

81 months

Wednesday 24th July
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Not having a go at the OP, but I can't help feeling that going to a pharmacist for a medical diagnosis is on a par with going to the parts counter of a car dealership and asking them why your car is misfiring.

Dan_1981

17,547 posts

206 months

Wednesday 24th July
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Deranged Rover said:
Not having a go at the OP, but I can't help feeling that going to a pharmacist for a medical diagnosis is on a par with going to the parts counter of a car dealership and asking them why your car is misfiring.
It's literally what the NHS advise...

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pha...



Petrus1983

9,825 posts

169 months

Wednesday 24th July
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Deranged Rover said:
Not having a go at the OP, but I can't help feeling that going to a pharmacist for a medical diagnosis is on a par with going to the parts counter of a car dealership and asking them why your car is misfiring.
Why? It was my first point of call when my little one was still little. They're very well trained and it takes the pressures off the local GPs.

And as for the OP question - yes - very unethical and I'd already have been on the phone to the HQ by now.

ETA - I posted this before I saw Dans comment - but yes, it's a usual course of action.

WinkleHoff

Original Poster:

750 posts

242 months

Wednesday 24th July
quotequote all
We called GP first, they said go to the pharmacist....ended up right back at the GP!

Update; I complained to the shop. They have told him to desist with his business card/selling activities, but I feel someone like this either doesn't understand ethics, or does and is doing it anyway. Either way its a problem.. I explained to the store manager the ethics problems,who fully agreed with me, but I sense they are trying to sweep the issue under the carpet and just give him a ticking off.

mikeiow

6,230 posts

137 months

Wednesday 24th July
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Complain to the head office of the Pharmacy.
If a major organisation, tweet the hell out of them.

Scandalous.

anyoldcardave

768 posts

74 months

Wednesday 24th July
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WinkleHoff said:
My wife took my young daughter to a pharmacists today in a well known UK outlet. She is suffering ear ache. The pharmacist looked at her ear and stated that the problem was wax and it will need clearing. He said to my wife that he can do this from his home "clinic". He also dropped in that he offers 'botox" at his home clinic.

My wife then went to the GP who took one look and said its infected, nothing to do with wax.

This has surely got to be wrong on so many levels. Offering private unregulated services when employed as a pharmacist. He would have made my daughters ear worse for a start. And then there is patient safety and abuse of position.

I feel this is deeply unprofessional and needs reporting. Surely?
Yes, you must report it, we are being fobbed off to pharmacists because GP, s no longer want face to face appointments, you were lucky to get an appointment.

Things like this need to be reported every time.

The NHS, no longer do ear wax cleaning, that is the first thing fobbed on to the private sector, if your GP had agreed it was a wax problem, you would have been paying to get it sorted, around 40 quid.

WinkleHoff

Original Poster:

750 posts

242 months

Wednesday 24th July
quotequote all
anyoldcardave said:
Yes, you must report it, we are being fobbed off to pharmacists because GP, s no longer want face to face appointments, you were lucky to get an appointment.

Things like this need to be reported every time.

The NHS, no longer do ear wax cleaning, that is the first thing fobbed on to the private sector, if your GP had agreed it was a wax problem, you would have been paying to get it sorted, around 40 quid.
That's right. Initially had a phone consultation with GP, fobbed off to pharmacist, pharmacist sneakily tries to sell sideline home services (in a "clinic" above his garage no less!), go away and insist GP takes a look, who find its infected, not wax. Joke. Massive waste of time with quackery along the way.


Deranged Rover

3,778 posts

81 months

Thursday 25th July
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Dan_1981 said:
It's literally what the NHS advise...

https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/pharmacies/how-pha...
I'm well aware of that, however my sister-in-law is a pharmacist and thinks it's a very poor idea.