"Disgraceful and appalling service at the pharmacy"

Without doubt, Lister Pharmacy has the worst run service that I have ever come across. Having been given a prescription, which I was told could not be used elsewhere, I was forced to go to the hospital pharmacy. What an appallingly disgraceful and badly managed experience.

I joined the queue to hand in my prescription and was eventually given a ticket “Number 86” and was told it would be around 30 to 40 minutes, so I sat down and waited. Beside me were two ladies, one with No.27, and the other with No.47. I asked No.47 how long she had been waiting and she said it was over 2 hours. I suggested that she should inquire at the desk. There, she was told that it was still "In Progress”!! Eventually after 2hrs 35mins her number came up on the screen, but she was then told they couldn't find it. Numbers kept flashing on the screen and were now showing numbers of 120 or more were ready for collection. Eventually, after 2hrs 10mins my number came up as "Completed", and I then had to join another queue which stretched outside, and it took over 15 mins to reach the front. Having handed in my ticket, the member of staff walked up and down the rows of dispensing staff, lifting up trays and sorting through paperwork, without success. He returned to say he was looking for it and disappeared. After a few minutes another staff member asked if she could help. I suggested that she should find the person who had my ticket or better still find my medication. She too spent ages looking for him, and then walked up and down searching before she also disappeared. I was then asked by a third person, and having explained the situation, he too set off and walked up and down searching in trays. This whole disgusting performance had become a complete farce. Believe me I was not the only one being treated in this disgusting show of total incompetence. I eventually received my prescription.

This whole disgraceful fiasco had taken well over two and a half hours. I noticed that there were several signs stating that abuse to staff was not tolerated, and I can well see the necessity and reason for this.

I can understand that there are times when it is really busy, but although the numbering system and display board seem efficient and the dispensing staff seem to do their job, thereafter the system completely falls apart. There were four members of staff walking up and down the lines of dispensing staff searching for completed prescriptions by sorting through piles of trays and boxes.

To me this was caused by total bad management that would allow such complete and utter chaos, and the manager involved should be thoroughly ashamed of themselves.....or perhaps they couldn't care less.