Wrong tablets nearly killed me (From Bournemouth Echo)
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Wrong tablets nearly killed me
8:58am Monday 4th March 2013 in News
Wrong tablets nearly killed me
A MAN says he is lucky to be alive after being dispensed the wrong drugs by a Dorset pharmacy.
Richard Whipps was told by doctors that the mistake, in which he was given diabetic medication instead of steroids for asthma, had put him into a diabetic coma and could have killed him.
Thanks to his vigilant wife Debbie, Mr Whipps was rushed to hospital and promptly treated.
Mr Whipps, 38, of Oaklands Close, Verwood, visited his doctors on February 4 and was prescribed antibiotics and steroids for a chest infection.
He collected his prescription from Lloyds Pharmacy in Ringwood Road, Verwood, that evening and the following morning took six steroid tablets as instructed.
That afternoon he felt unwell and began suffering an asthma attack. He was taken by ambulance to Royal Bournemouth Hospital and released later that evening.
On Wednesday February 6 Mr Whipps took his antibiotics and six steroid tablets as instructed but again felt unwell.
Debbie checked the medication and was shocked to discover the box and drugs inside were actually for diabetics – even though the printed label stuck on the box contained the details for the correct medication. Mr Whipps said: “The medication had been checked twice by members of staff at the pharmacy but they still got it completely wrong. I felt horrendous but just thought it was a side effect of the steroids. I had no idea I had actually been taking the wrong medication.”
Mr Whipps, who has twin girls aged three, was rushed to Royal Bournemouth Hospital and put onto an IV glucose drip.
He spent the night on the acute medical ward before doctors had corrected his sugar levels and he was allowed home.
He said: “I am really, really angry about what happened and how serious it could have been.
“The nurse and the doctor at hospital said it was very serious what had happened to me and that I was basically going into a diabetic coma. If my wife hadn’t noticed and I had been left overnight, I could have been killed.”
A Lloyds Pharmacy spokesperson said: “We take the health of our patients very seriously and are extremely sorry that Mr Whipps was given the incorrect prescription medication.
“We have stringent standard operating procedures and a full investigation has taken place into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We will shortly share the findings of our investigation with Mr Whipps and have been in contact to apologise for any distress caused.”
Mr Whipps has since received a letter from Lloyds offering their apologies and explaining the outcome of their investigation.
Comments(60)
bsjc1234
says...
9:17am Mon 4 Mar 13
InkZ
says...
9:18am Mon 4 Mar 13
Duckorange
says...
9:18am Mon 4 Mar 13
bsjc1234 wrote:It's not a non-story. It's one of severe medical negligence in which a man might have died.
An error which was thankfully corrected, get a life man! no need for this non story.
afcbtintin
says...
9:26am Mon 4 Mar 13
Endced up in a&e with a very worried wife who thought I was having a stroke.
This is not a non-story - it's an example of how we trust people in charge of our health no to make such dangerous mistakes!
Arjay
says...
9:27am Mon 4 Mar 13
But that's really only OK if you're on regular medication, and know what you're expecting to receive.
In cases like this, when it's for a special one off treatment, mistakes could be fatal.........
Looks as if we need to be encouraged to actually read those information sheets tucked into every packet!
Doesn't seem as if the pharmacy's 'checking' procedures are working very well though, does it?......
retry69
says...
9:32am Mon 4 Mar 13
Duckorange wrote:Some responsibility lies with the patient, surely one reads the enclosed instructions first then the error would have been highlighted and if after taking the first dose of tablets it puts you in hospital i would think twice in taking them again without consultation
bsjc1234 wrote:It's not a non-story. It's one of severe medical negligence in which a man might have died.
An error which was thankfully corrected, get a life man! no need for this non story.
bbird
says...
9:40am Mon 4 Mar 13
Discuss new medication with the pharmacist to check there are no contraindications with anything else you take.
I also review the web, and recently changed a medication for another after finding medical research found I was 4x more likely to have a stroke on the first one!
idontbelieveit
says...
9:42am Mon 4 Mar 13
Bella53
says...
9:46am Mon 4 Mar 13
idontbelieveit wrote:Try and read the story before making a comment: "even though the printed label stuck on the box contained the details for the correct medication"
The pharmacy are responsible but surely you check the label before taking them? Please make cheque payable to Mr R Whipps.
Time_Traveller
says...
9:56am Mon 4 Mar 13
Bella53 wrote:So he only looked at the label and not the box itself. Most drugs have their name listed on all four sides of the box, as well as on the end flaps, so whilst he should have noticed that - so should the pharmacist - after all it's his JOB to know what he is dispensing!!
idontbelieveit wrote:Try and read the story before making a comment: "even though the printed label stuck on the box contained the details for the correct medication"
The pharmacy are responsible but surely you check the label before taking them? Please make cheque payable to Mr R Whipps.
If he was blind he would not have seen the name of the drug was not the same as the on on the label - so in this instance I feel it is definitely the pharmacist at fault ......... but at least people living local to that man now know where NOT to get their prescription filled out :o/
crispy_pants
says...
10:24am Mon 4 Mar 13
.
contraindications
l'anglais
says...
10:36am Mon 4 Mar 13
bsjc1234 wrote:1. It was corrected by who exactly? Certainly not the pharmacy, A&E had to be called in to rescue the poor chap.
An error which was thankfully corrected, get a life man! no need for this non story.
2. If this is a non-story, then please continue reading your red top for your titillation's.
People need to be made aware of medical incompetence.
Without the intervention of the media, how can we be informed?
ol'bag lady
says...
10:39am Mon 4 Mar 13
bobthedestroyer
says...
10:42am Mon 4 Mar 13
He needs to act more like a grown up and not a baby who needs constant supervision.
THawkes
says...
11:06am Mon 4 Mar 13
He was dispensed the wrong drugs!!!!
Very poor journalism
robsmith123
says...
11:13am Mon 4 Mar 13
TheDistrict
says...
11:18am Mon 4 Mar 13
.
Yes the pharmacy/pharmacist did make an error, and the appropriate action should be taken once the findings have been made during the investigation.
However, some blame should be afforded to the man himself or his family for not notifying the hospital of medication being administered at that time, and for the hospital not make enquiries as to the same.
Good to see that Mr. Whipps has made a full second recovery, however, in my opinion, that it is it. Case closed, although it is up to the Pharmacy to complete the investigation and take appropriate actions.
muscliffman
says...
11:46am Mon 4 Mar 13
It has already been recognised that this is becoming a problem within the NHS itself.
munchies
says...
12:19pm Mon 4 Mar 13
BmthNewshound
says...
12:32pm Mon 4 Mar 13
munchies wrote:Exactly. You should always check the label and read the leaflet inside the box.
Is it not pretty clear on the packet the name of the tablets and is it not commonsense to check said tablets are suitable for the illness they are meant for but compensation for stupidity? expect so!
.
It seems that in todays compensation culture commonsense and personal responsibility have gone out of the window.
.
These people are clearly looking for compensation why else would you come to the Echo with the story.
PeeGee
says...
12:33pm Mon 4 Mar 13
charlie2004
says...
12:55pm Mon 4 Mar 13
scrumpyjack
says...
1:32pm Mon 4 Mar 13
charlie2004 wrote:A more realistic post thank god.
These tablets were probably dispensed in a plain white box with the label on the front. That's how many steroids are dispensed. The information sheet could well have been for the tablets he was prescribed, but the actual tablets put into the box were the wrong one's. Listen to you know all's, would you have actually checked the silver strip the tablets come in for the name of the drug, Mostly the stamped print is so small it's impossible to read anyway and also the name on the strip could be the brand name or the generic name so would he have been any the wiser for checking this. I doubt it.
Dlt_debz
says...
1:34pm Mon 4 Mar 13
charlie2004 wrote:If you look at the picture and actually read the report you will see the tablets were not in a plain white box and that it was when the wife read the instructions that they spotted the mistake. I have regular prescriptions and it always says on the printed label to read the intructions carefully before taking them, if he had done that then the mistake would have been spotted before he took the tablets and I'm sure the pharmacy would have swapped the tablets for the correct one
These tablets were probably dispensed in a plain white box with the label on the front. That's how many steroids are dispensed. The information sheet could well have been for the tablets he was prescribed, but the actual tablets put into the box were the wrong one's. Listen to you know all's, would you have actually checked the silver strip the tablets come in for the name of the drug, Mostly the stamped print is so small it's impossible to read anyway and also the name on the strip could be the brand name or the generic name so would he have been any the wiser for checking this. I doubt it.
PeeGee
says...
1:45pm Mon 4 Mar 13
charlie2004 wrote:Look at the picture. They are not in a plain box. The report says the printed label said it was steroids. Therefore it would not have matched the manufacturer's print on the box. It's hardly about being a "know all". It's just stating facts as opposed to the guesswork you are spouting.
These tablets were probably dispensed in a plain white box with the label on the front. That's how many steroids are dispensed. The information sheet could well have been for the tablets he was prescribed, but the actual tablets put into the box were the wrong one's. Listen to you know all's, would you have actually checked the silver strip the tablets come in for the name of the drug, Mostly the stamped print is so small it's impossible to read anyway and also the name on the strip could be the brand name or the generic name so would he have been any the wiser for checking this. I doubt it.
stevobath
says...
1:46pm Mon 4 Mar 13
If the leaflet had been read, as it should,this could've been avoided.
Still,its rather dodgy that it was checked twice by chemist & STILL given?
Thank goodness I go to a decent independent chemist who takes time to talk etc. Never found ANY Lloyds Chemists to be much cop TBH,so I go out of my way.
Buddles
says...
1:49pm Mon 4 Mar 13
The sticky label probably said "prednisolone" (a steroid) and gave instructions to take 6 tablets.
Taking 6 gliclazide tablets is a high dose, especially so if you are not diabetic.
The fault is with the pharmacy for not tallying the label to the correct drug box and double checking it before giving it to the customer.
PeeGee
says...
1:57pm Mon 4 Mar 13
muscliffman wrote:I think Gliclazide is probably the same word in any language. How about finding another excuse to knock immigration. There on lots on the Daily Mail website - try there.
Will this boil down to somebody in the dispensing process lacking a proper grasp of our english language? It has already been recognised that this is becoming a problem within the NHS itself.
spooki
says...
2:03pm Mon 4 Mar 13
bogtrotter
says...
2:05pm Mon 4 Mar 13
...
nosuchluck54
says...
2:07pm Mon 4 Mar 13
scrumpyjack wrote:two more compensation wannabes?
charlie2004 wrote:A more realistic post thank god.
These tablets were probably dispensed in a plain white box with the label on the front. That's how many steroids are dispensed. The information sheet could well have been for the tablets he was prescribed, but the actual tablets put into the box were the wrong one's. Listen to you know all's, would you have actually checked the silver strip the tablets come in for the name of the drug, Mostly the stamped print is so small it's impossible to read anyway and also the name on the strip could be the brand name or the generic name so would he have been any the wiser for checking this. I doubt it.
spooki
says...
2:08pm Mon 4 Mar 13
nosuchluck54
says...
2:10pm Mon 4 Mar 13
PeeGee wrote:Yeah a pretty stupid, offensive remark whoever it was directed
muscliffman wrote:I think Gliclazide is probably the same word in any language. How about finding another excuse to knock immigration. There on lots on the Daily Mail website - try there.
Will this boil down to somebody in the dispensing process lacking a proper grasp of our english language? It has already been recognised that this is becoming a problem within the NHS itself.
RED on tour
says...
2:11pm Mon 4 Mar 13
First paragraph informs you READ ALL OF THIS LEAFLET CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU START TAKING THIS MEDICINE. One minute of your time would have saved the NHS time and expense. The pharmacy made a mistake which should not happen but to put something in your mouth without a simple check of the leaflet is nothing short of stupidity.
nosuchluck54
says...
2:42pm Mon 4 Mar 13
scrumpyjack wrote:Why,did you not understand my meaning?
scrumpyjack wrote:I called you Richard Head btw.
nosuchluck54 wrote:****.
scrumpyjack wrote:two more compensation wannabes?
charlie2004 wrote:A more realistic post thank god.
These tablets were probably dispensed in a plain white box with the label on the front. That's how many steroids are dispensed. The information sheet could well have been for the tablets he was prescribed, but the actual tablets put into the box were the wrong one's. Listen to you know all's, would you have actually checked the silver strip the tablets come in for the name of the drug, Mostly the stamped print is so small it's impossible to read anyway and also the name on the strip could be the brand name or the generic name so would he have been any the wiser for checking this. I doubt it.
BournemouthMum
says...
2:45pm Mon 4 Mar 13
Controversial But True wrote:Totally agree. I can't see the point. Also, most medication comes with an enclosed leaflet explaining what it is and possible side effects etc - did he not read that? I always go further and Google whatever medication I'm given to see if I really want to take it.
Looks like a terrible error was made by the pharmacy.
Still, in life, mistakes do happen, and will always happen.
I just don't agree that this is really worth 'grassing' up to the Echo though!
What's the gain?
Mistakes happen, nobody died. end of.
ashleycross
says...
3:33pm Mon 4 Mar 13
awsokend
says...
3:55pm Mon 4 Mar 13
Best to take 3 before you go to sleep
And 3 just before you wake up.
joebuddah
says...
4:34pm Mon 4 Mar 13
- Are the staff under undue pressure?
- Are there managers above them who put unreasonable requests on the Pharmacist and their staff?
- Do the support staff have an adequate level of training?
- Does the pharmacist have a regular break?
I wonder what the repercussions would be if it was the company at fault.
One would expect that the pharmacist in competent and able to check correctly as this is no old-joe idiot from the street. Don't pharmacist these days need a Masters Degree in Pharmacy and pass further competency exams?
Hessenford
says...
4:34pm Mon 4 Mar 13
nosuchluck54 wrote:We are all probably guilty in so far as we trust our doctors and the chemist to give us the correct tablets and follow the information they verbally give us, no excuse but it is a fact.
PeeGee wrote:Yeah a pretty stupid, offensive remark whoever it was directed
muscliffman wrote:I think Gliclazide is probably the same word in any language. How about finding another excuse to knock immigration. There on lots on the Daily Mail website - try there.
Will this boil down to somebody in the dispensing process lacking a proper grasp of our english language? It has already been recognised that this is becoming a problem within the NHS itself.
If this were a hospital that had caused this I suspect that everybody commenting here would have been advising this guy to claim compensation.
boscombe78
says...
5:16pm Mon 4 Mar 13
askquestion
says...
5:46pm Mon 4 Mar 13
Carolyn43
says...
6:33pm Mon 4 Mar 13
awsokend wrote:Depends on what the tablets are and what they are for. I HAVE to take 10 tablets in one go, they wouldn't be as effective if I split them.
Its not a good idea to take 6 tablets in one go
Best to take 3 before you go to sleep
And 3 just before you wake up.
You canlt make a general statement about someone else's medication.
Carolyn43
says...
6:34pm Mon 4 Mar 13
awsokend wrote:In any case how do you take tablets BEFORE you wake up??????????
Its not a good idea to take 6 tablets in one go
Best to take 3 before you go to sleep
And 3 just before you wake up.
Carolyn43
says...
6:36pm Mon 4 Mar 13
spooki wrote:According to the article the prescription, even if done by the Drs receptionist, was correct - the wrong drugs were dispenses by the pharmacy.
A Lloyds Pharmacy spokesperson said: “We have stringent standard operating procedures" yeah, sounds like it. Our pharmacy (not Lloyds) is always cocking things up but to be fair, I've seen the Drs receptionist do the repeats so I think it lies there.
THawkes
says...
6:49pm Mon 4 Mar 13
Carolyn43 wrote:Have you found your sense of humour yet?
awsokend wrote:In any case how do you take tablets BEFORE you wake up??????????
Its not a good idea to take 6 tablets in one go
Best to take 3 before you go to sleep
And 3 just before you wake up.
DOH!
Carolyn43
says...
7:01pm Mon 4 Mar 13
THawkes wrote:I don't have a sense of humour when wrong medication can put someone's life at risk.
Carolyn43 wrote:Have you found your sense of humour yet?
awsokend wrote:In any case how do you take tablets BEFORE you wake up??????????
Its not a good idea to take 6 tablets in one go
Best to take 3 before you go to sleep
And 3 just before you wake up.
DOH!
BournemouthMum
says...
7:09pm Mon 4 Mar 13
askquestion wrote:Heroin? I didn't think GPs would hand out prescriptions for heroin (diamorphine) I thought only consultants were able to prescribe it because it's a pretty powerful drug?
i was given a prescription for heroin once ! by the receptionist of my surgery. i bothered to read it before i got home and returned it !!!! dont always trust what you are handed. read it first. people can make mistakes.
ragj195
says...
9:20pm Mon 4 Mar 13
awsokend wrote:It's best to ignore the doctor's instructions of what dosage to take?
Its not a good idea to take 6 tablets in one go
Best to take 3 before you go to sleep
And 3 just before you wake up.
The fact is both the pharmacist and this guy are at fault which is why going to the Echo with his story of who he things is totally at fault is somewhat misguided. He's just making himself look like a plank. Amazing how someone doesn't change from how you remember them at school 25 years ago!
muscliffman
says...
10:05pm Mon 4 Mar 13
PeeGee wrote:Hold on a moment, Policies are now being urgently considered across political parties to ensure all professionals in the UK NHS can competently understand the english language - why?
muscliffman wrote:I think Gliclazide is probably the same word in any language. How about finding another excuse to knock immigration. There on lots on the Daily Mail website - try there.
Will this boil down to somebody in the dispensing process lacking a proper grasp of our english language? It has already been recognised that this is becoming a problem within the NHS itself.
Well. not least because a patient death has recently been linked to this growing concern. The entire NHS system was designed around, and most of it's patients use, the english language. Fact - not prejudice.
Expressing the opinion that a language problem (and certainly not immigration as a subject) MAY be relevant somewhere in this case is therefore very topical - and is no excuse for anyone taking groundless offence.
Are people's lives now to be risked in the name of misplaced political correctness, I do hope not!
Yankee1
says...
10:52pm Mon 4 Mar 13
Sue them. They are a business; not the NHS. The insurers will pay. This will make them work harder to avoid such errors.
Lord Spring
says...
7:58am Tue 5 Mar 13
stevobath
says...
10:32am Tue 5 Mar 13
charlie2004 wrote:They weren't dispensed in a plain white box.
These tablets were probably dispensed in a plain white box with the label on the front. That's how many steroids are dispensed. The information sheet could well have been for the tablets he was prescribed, but the actual tablets put into the box were the wrong one's. Listen to you know all's, would you have actually checked the silver strip the tablets come in for the name of the drug, Mostly the stamped print is so small it's impossible to read anyway and also the name on the strip could be the brand name or the generic name so would he have been any the wiser for checking this. I doubt it.
Its got the name of the drug CLEARLY printed on the box..Take a look at the photo, so reading the actual name on the box & the printed label, would've alerted the gent.
As for 'Many steroids' being dispensed in white boxes.Lots of tablets are dispensed this way not just steroids.
stevobath
says...
10:36am Tue 5 Mar 13
scrumpyjack wrote:I think you must be D. Head too,if you think CHARLIE 2004 comment was 'realistic'.
scrumpyjack wrote:I called you Richard Head btw.
nosuchluck54 wrote:****.
scrumpyjack wrote:two more compensation wannabes?
charlie2004 wrote:A more realistic post thank god.
These tablets were probably dispensed in a plain white box with the label on the front. That's how many steroids are dispensed. The information sheet could well have been for the tablets he was prescribed, but the actual tablets put into the box were the wrong one's. Listen to you know all's, would you have actually checked the silver strip the tablets come in for the name of the drug, Mostly the stamped print is so small it's impossible to read anyway and also the name on the strip could be the brand name or the generic name so would he have been any the wiser for checking this. I doubt it.
Read his comment again then take a look at the photo.
awsokend
says...
10:50am Tue 5 Mar 13
Are you on H R T ?,
No i said,
I'm on Income Support.
awsokend
says...
10:55am Tue 5 Mar 13
stevobath wrote:If you can't read the small print
scrumpyjack wrote:I think you must be D. Head too,if you think CHARLIE 2004 comment was 'realistic'.
scrumpyjack wrote:I called you Richard Head btw.
nosuchluck54 wrote:****.
scrumpyjack wrote:two more compensation wannabes?
charlie2004 wrote:A more realistic post thank god.
These tablets were probably dispensed in a plain white box with the label on the front. That's how many steroids are dispensed. The information sheet could well have been for the tablets he was prescribed, but the actual tablets put into the box were the wrong one's. Listen to you know all's, would you have actually checked the silver strip the tablets come in for the name of the drug, Mostly the stamped print is so small it's impossible to read anyway and also the name on the strip could be the brand name or the generic name so would he have been any the wiser for checking this. I doubt it.
Read his comment again then take a look at the photo.
its not a doctor you need
its Spec Savers.
stevobath
says...
12:24pm Tue 5 Mar 13
awsokend wrote:Shouldn't you be at school or doing homework?
My doctor asked,
Are you on H R T ?,
No i said,
I'm on Income Support.
spooki
says...
1:20pm Tue 5 Mar 13
Carolyn43 wrote:My point was that I expect a repeat prescription service to be just that. I don't expect someone who doesn't know what theyre doing who probably already has too much to do to go through the ordering process. The paperwork says "allow 48hrs for prescriptions" but we now allow at least a week as there's usually something wrong or missing. The times mums been given test strips instead of lancets is boggling.
spooki wrote:According to the article the prescription, even if done by the Drs receptionist, was correct - the wrong drugs were dispenses by the pharmacy.
A Lloyds Pharmacy spokesperson said: “We have stringent standard operating procedures" yeah, sounds like it. Our pharmacy (not Lloyds) is always cocking things up but to be fair, I've seen the Drs receptionist do the repeats so I think it lies there.
You in turn expect the pharmacy to know what they're doing and not allow trainees to go through the process and allow someone to pass the wrong drug to a patient.
Perhaps folk should look out for someone with steroids instead of Gliclazides?
speedy231278
says...
11:19am Mon 25 Mar 13
Clearly a grossly negligent mistake by the pharmacy, but it just goes to show you should check whatever drugs you are taking before you actually put the pills in your mouth!
Controversial But True says...
9:12am Mon 4 Mar 13
Still, in life, mistakes do happen, and will always happen.
I just don't agree that this is really worth 'grassing' up to the Echo though!
What's the gain?