A call has gone out for the public to respect those in public facing services after a councillor spoke of how she had to step in after watching a patient reduce a pharmacist to tears.
Coun Glynis Scalese was working as a nurse when she witnessed the incident at West Elloe Pharmacy.
“Last week I was disappointed to see two members of the public when they became very aggressive to the member of staff behind the till who became very upset,” she told a meeting of South Holland District Council.
“I stepped in and had a chat to one of the members of the public.
“She said she was a diabetic and needed the medicine now having put in for the prescription two days ago.
“I told her as a diabetic she should know how important that medication is because now the prescriptions taking 10-14 days to get.”
Coun Gary Taylor responded: “We know the stressful and difficult job they (in the health service) do.
“We’ve seen times where politicians are being attacked and £31m is being spent on security for them.
“We know whatever way you speak your safety should not be in question.
“The message needs to go to all elected councillors as we’ve seen some difficulties in certain parts of the country and we don’t want to see it in South Holland.
“Please treat each other with respect, particularly those who work on the front line.”
Coun Scalese brought up the issue as she was talking about the new Pharmacist First scheme where patients can go there rather than to GPs. Treatments includes sinus issues, sore throats, ear aches, infected insect bites, skin infections, shingles and uncomplicated UTIs.
“It’s a fantastic scheme,” she said. “But we’re getting some going into the chemists asking for diagnosis for cancer and the clinicians can’t do that. The people at the pharmacies are doing their consulting time now in the hours they worked already, so they’re being run ragged.”
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