After-Hours Dispensary

Press, Volume C, Issue 29679, 24 November 1961, Page 3

After-Hours Dispensary

Sir,—One evening last week •I hurriedly entered our only emergency dispensary with a prescription marked “urgent.” I was told by the attendant that I would have to wait 13 minutes. Wanting to make an urgent telephone call and possessing no coins, I asked and was .granted permission to enter the inner room where the telephone was located. Much to my surprise I saw three attendints. tea-cup in hand, engaged in a conversation. Eyeing the prescription and the idle attendants! I thought - the 15 minutes' wait seemed to make little sense. My indignation turned to anger when, after waiting, I received 12 ready-made pOls in fc container on which the typing 'of the label seemed the only time-con-suming effort. While I was waiting two other people entered with prescriptions. They were also told to wait 15 minutes. Is this procedure standard or necessary in urgent cases?—Yours, etc., OR. November 20. 1961. t“We find it hard to understand ‘O.R.'s’ complaints,” said Mr J. A. S. Marris, secretary of the Urgent Pharmacy (Christchurch), Ltd. "Prescriptions are dispensed strictly in order of their presentation.- Time is largely determined by the number of prescriptions already in hand and by the nature of the prescription. When a prescription is completed—often before the appriximate time stated—the person’s name is called. Staff, by union award are entitled to 10 minutes’ break for tea. This is observed as out staff is working under pressure, particularly until 9 p.m. We feel that ‘O.R;’ has had the good service which we always endeavour tp give.”]