Crown Street

I went to the store last Friday the 7th of December to leave a prescription and also to use the needle exchange. I previously used the needle exchange and was served by a very professional Indian Sikh man. He met with me as I had requested a private discussion in the office. This time I went there the Indian man was not there. There was Darek and also a younger Indian man who was at the counter. I asked the Indian man if I could have a consult in the office he said I will be back with you and he went and stood behind the counter. He was not and did not come back to me. So someone named Darek who is either English or Eastern European. I asked if I could have a private discussion. When I explained to him that I use performance enhancing drugs his demeanor changed. He said to me that I did not need to asked for a private discussion as this could be exchanged over the counter. The first time I went there I had the return bins sealed inside several bags. Darek said it is against the law for me to handle the bag for safety reasons. I gave them to the first man and he said to me that if I ever needed any exchange to asked the staff for a private meeting. He took the bins as they were inside several plastic bags. Darek said I needed to place them behind the counter in front of other people inside the store which I felt offended by. He then proceeded to asked me my age, why I needed the needles etc. I believe that a person should be able to have the privacy. So if I go in and ask for a private consultation I believe that I should be allowed to see someone in private. I realize that every member of staff can give out needle exchange. But at least allow the person to have privacy if they wish. I don't wish for everyone in the store to know that I use needle exchange. The bin box under the cabinet was full and I could have been contaminated the same way he did not want to be contaminated. I have had positive results every time in the 2-3 months that I have used the pharmacy. My gp is in the area so I feel it necessary to use the pharmacy there. In the past I used to go to Soho to use needle exchange as there is such a stigma about people who use needle exchange. This Darek had this stigma in his demeanor and the way he spoke to me. |I'm not a junkie of heroin, or some other hard drug. The stigma of a performance enhancement user is equal. In the future from the way I was treated I will go back to Soho and use needle exchange on Frith Street as they treat you with the highest regards and respect. Respecting your rights as a person. I'm disappointed in the treatment that I had received from the surgery.

The store is convinient because it is next door to the doctor's surgery but in the last three months the service has deterriated becaues prescription request often cannot be completed in full and in one visit. Since this did not happen before I can only assume that no proper ordering policy is in force and no usage monitoring takes place. This needs to be looked into. N.B I refer to sedimary medications not hybrids.

Be improved that we should not have to wait for are tablets after 1 hour and it should be ready when order in advance. They do there best and that staff are polite.

I can only say that I have been going the Lloyds Chemist down Crown St I have had great service and above the staff have been great because you are treated like a human being with care and respect. I have been using this chemist for a very very long time. Yours sincerely E.A Fox