14 minutes to decipher the handwriting on the prescription, 1 minute to do everything else.

I have said what takes so long, but it may have been missed.

More often then not they are dealing with several at a time, many of these are for people who get theirs delivered due to patient being unable to leave their house. So even if you are the only one in the store, yours will not be the only prescription being sorted out.

Does it matter why it takes so long?

It just fking does live with it.

I assume there are other things to do, as people have mentioned above, like check the prescription is correct, check the dosage, type the dosage etc and print the label, bag it, check it again to be sure.

I have similar queries from clients sometimes who ask for a relatively minor change to a design drawing and expect it within minutes. Aside from the fact I cannot drop everything every time someone asks me for something, a simple change requires a few minutes in CAD changing not only the actual drawing but the title box etc, plus updating the issue sheet, saving the new file as the next revision, printing as a pdf. That doesn't include having someone else check the amendment either, which is a requirement of our QA system. If there is no one in the office to check the amendment, it may have wait until the following day. From the client's perspective, it has then taken a day to perform something he sees as requiring only a few minutes.

If they can't even be bothered to get off their lazy fat arses and walk to the chemist, then they don't deserve medication.

And I bet they get it free as well. And who's paying for that? I'll tell you who - Muggins here.

As I mentioned earlier, the lad or lass who takes your script off you probably isn't a Pharmacist, and they probably don't know your medical history.

They are probably told to say 10 mins for one or two items, and 15 mins for up to four items, any more, check. By saying 10 mins for a single item it give the Pharmacist the time to do all their checks, and labelling and so on, have a few minutes spare in case there is a problem, and assume there might be something else they have to finish before they get to it.

If you're going to pop back, they say 20 mins so they can do any quick ones in front of it, and give you chance to drink your coffee or buy your veg, or whatever you do.

To clarify, a simple NHS prescription for me would take a couple of minutes, tops, if it was the only thing they needed to do. (I'm 32 and healthy, apart from whatever I need the prescription for.)

The same prescription may cause all sorts of problems for some one else, that could involve a call to the Dr, or consulting some reference material to check doses, for instance.

Since the nice lady taking it off you doesn't know which of the two it's likely to be, they offer for you to wait 10 mins, or pop back in 20 mins.

Does this help? Can we close the thread now?

It's hardly dishing out a quarter of wine gums is it? As well as making sure the prescription is correct in drug type and content they have to check in case it has any side effects you may need to know about. Then there is the problem of making sure no other drugs you may be taking could have an adverse effect which is why you get asked questions when the pharmacist does come out. They also check if the Doctor prescribing the drugs is not known to them or has prescribed something they normally wouldn't. They also tend to check dosage as too many zeroes could very well kill you.

OH I SO shouldnt but

Damn right.

If I could get a pound for the the amount of idiots we get like you that come and say "oh but you just take it of the shelf mate!" I would be a millionaire!

Even when a Pharmacy might look quiet there's a possibility that there is a line of prescriptions that are waiting to be done with most of them being 3-4 + items!

Let me go through the process.

1: Prescription has to be checked for legality.
2: Item has to be found and taken off the shelf and counted.
3: Patient has to be found on the system and If it's a new patient It may take around 5 minutes to make a record on the computer.
4: Correct information have to be typed on the computer in order to make labels.
4: Labels have to be made with the correct dosage and stuck on the box and be checked by the dispenser and the Rx has to be endorsed.
5: Pharmacist has to check to see if the medication, strength, dosage, date, quantity, name, address and the fact he/she has to make sure if the doctor has prescribed the right medication and dosage may take even longer.

At the same time you have to deal with customers and staff queries!