Are pharmacists sufficiently trained?

If you have a good pharmacist you’ve got it cracked! I have recently started treatment for AML, leukaemia. I have lots of tablets to take throughout the day. Some tablets are prescribed and provided by the hospital some tablets are on repeat prescription from my GP. My husband and I called into our chemist and spoke at length with the pharmacist. He was fantastic, he explained each tablet and what it did. The ones to take before eating and the ones to take with food. He spent a good half hour talking to us. He provides a fantastic service and in future would not hesitate to have a consultation and have a prescription from him.

Yes, a good pharmacist is worth their weight in gold. Unfortunately, just like doctors, there are a small number of incompetent ones that give the rest a bad name if someone is unlucky enough to come across them and needs advice.

I see exactly what you mean Whitewavemark2 and no, I would not trust a pharmacist to prescribe or diagnose anything for me. If I have a problem I want to see a fully trained doctor not someone trained in various medicines and their effects. The whole idea of going to a pharmacist in the future instead of a GP is just an excuse to get around the problem that we don't have enough full time GP's and the health service is in decline. I have a close relative who is a fully trained pharmacist and has the post grad quals but says herself that she is not capable of diagnosing patients except in very simple straightforward situations. They do not have the time to go into the patient's medical history or to fully understand these implications.

But, if the pharmacist had been properly trained she probably would not have given antibiotics.

No, pharmacists are not sufficiently trained. They are trained but not in the specifics of general meds and don't have the same training as GPs. I went a few years ago with a rash on my hand and asked for advice. The pharmacist said shingles and that I should go to the GP immediately. I didn't as I didn't think that it was shingles and I was correct. It's all part of the downgrading of healthcare to manage demand.

I remember hearing a GP diagnose shingles in a young person as infected bites.

Please go to your GP asap. If your toe is still red and swollen, it would indeed suggest an infection.

Hahahaa…
whitewavemark2 had a legit question and the question thread immediately turned into a “feisty” exchange (mostly by her) - on the first page.

Like, we don’t get it? Yes, most get it, but WWM2 ended up answering her own question (because no one was giving her the answer she wanted) - on the first page.

Five more pages of comments/exchanges… No need to read any further, don’t want to go there for fear of getting bitten in the a$$.

English ladies are the best! My morning entertainment. 😆
Cheers! (It’s a holiday here)
USA Gundy

The gaps they plug will be done fully qualified, they do continuing education.

Gundy, don't let paddyann54 think you are encompassing her in "English ladies", or there may be some real kick-a$$ing going on !
imo.

always good to hear from our cousins across the pond.

Daisymae

No, pharmacists are not sufficiently trained. They are trained but not in the specifics of general meds and don't have the same training as GPs. I went a few years ago with a rash on my hand and asked for advice. The pharmacist said shingles and that I should go to the GP immediately. I didn't as I didn't think that it was shingles and I was correct. It's all part of the downgrading of healthcare to manage demand.

It's all part of the downgrading of healthcare to manage demand.

Isn't that the truth!

Sticking-plasters to fix a broken leg...