The Pharmaceutical Journal
Vol 273 No 7309 p113
24 July 2004

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· Charter ballot
· Violence in pharmacies
· Cupping
· Humour in pharmacy
· Pharmacy education
· Natural therapies
· The Journal

Letters to the Editor

Violence in pharmacies

Let us not tolerate abusive patients

From Mr P. S. Wilkie, MRPharmS

With respect to the issue of violence in pharmacies, there is only one short, sharp answer. We, as a profession, should adopt a zero tolerance procedure, as so many of our colleagues within the NHS have done. Why should pharmacy bring up the rear within the NHS? Why should pharmacy be excluded from this most central of policies when it has been adopted by so many of our fellow professionals. We are, by the shear mechanics of dispensing NHS prescriptions and by the giving of advice to the public, intimately interwoven within the framework of the NHS. Indeed, the health minister has stated this. But why should we work in an environment in which we are abused?

Violence in pharmacies should not be tolerated, whether it is verbal or physical. In my opinion, any patient who is aggressive or abusive towards any member of the pharmacy team should be removed from the premises and barred, as well as being reported to the police, because their behaviour could be contrary to s4 or s5 of the Public Order Act 1996.

In general medical practice, if a patient is abusive, he or she is removed from the practice list and then must actively seek to be included at another surgery. Why cannot the pharmacy profession adopt this approach? Why should we be victims of such behaviour?

Let us convey a clear message that we will not tolerate abusive patients or customers.

Paul Wilkie
Bishop Auckland, Co Durham

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