Kamsons Pharmacy

"An absolute shower. Rude, incompetent and completely lacking in empathy. Leigh in particular is a really special kind of person. Booked a covid jab, went to the Kamsons on Beaconsfield Villas - to be greeted with a sign directing me to Kamsons London Road. Went there, waited 10 minutes to get a parking space, went in to be told no, go to Kamsons Beaconsfield Road. Arrived there, now 15 minutes late. A surly woman (Leigh) greeted me and when I said I was late due to the poor directions etc, glared at me, told me it's not their fault, it's the fault of the NHS, and told me to wait. She then loudly called across to the pharmacist, "The 10.20 has finally bothered to show up". 25 minutes later, when people who got there after me had been seen and jabbed, I asked how long I would have to wait. She responded with "the end of the surgery, it's not our fault you were late." (End of surgery being another 45 minutes away). Didn't think to tell me this sooner, of course. She then accused me of being rude to her and other members of staff. Utter tosh, she was the only person I had spoken to. She conceded that I hadn't shouted, sworn or made any personal remarks, and refused to give her name until pressed. I decided to wait outside - 10 minutes later the pharmacist comes out and says, "they can't see me today. They are too busy". A waste of over an hour of my life, and no jab. Can't believe anyone would entrust their healthcare needs to a bunch like this."

"Really unprofessional. I went to pick up my prescription and had my dog with me since we’ve just moved here and he’s not used to being alone in the new house yet—and also because the pharmacist at the other Kamsons on Preston Road let me order and pay outside w/out a fuss. When I arrived at this one, the pharmacist said dogs weren’t allowed and offered to serve me outside, but apparently then complained very loudly about it to their colleagues when they went back indoors. I know this because a customer stormed out shortly after and angrily told me that I had annoyed all the pharmacists with my dog and my demands. I was taken aback, since the least you can expect from a pharmacist apart from stocking your meds is to *not* talk about you in front of other customers. This woman kept on yelling at me, and then after she left, the pharmacist came out with my prescription and said that this was the last time they would be doing “this” (she gestured at the dog) for me, as if she hadn’t been the one to offer. I tried to apologise and reiterated that it wouldn’t happen again, it was b/c I was new in town, and she told me off *again*. It was only as I left that it occurred to me that serving a customer outside when there’s no queue and when she’s clearly being very apologetic really isn’t a big ask—and that being rude about a customer in front of other customers is unacceptable. Bear in mind as well that my dog is a really gentle bedlington lurcher on the small side who doesn’t bark, yap, or jump up, and is generally unassuming. ie, I wasn’t standing there with a Rottweiler foaming at the mouth. Additionally, the pharmacist could see I was picking up antidepressants and mood stabilisers—might it not dawn on them that unceremoniously telling off (and continuing to tell off after they’ve repeatedly apologised) someone with depression and bipolar might be especially ill-advised, and even harmful? (I’m not saying you should have to have mental health issues to be treated with respect—but rather, that if adhering to basic rules of courtesy and professionalism aren’t motive enough to be decent to a customer, then maybe fear of them kicking off might? In this case, I hadn’t had my meds in a couple of days so was feeling especially fragile—and was caught unawares since a pharmacy is the last place I’d expect to find myself on the receiving end of aggressive behaviour. Anyway, I’ll be asking my gp to send my prescriptions elsewhere. Shoddy service, appalling behaviour, and judging by the customer who yelled at me, not a great clientele either. Avoid."

"Pharmacist offered some good advice re my inhalers which very much helped me. Other staff usually ok as long as you answer the standard questions correctly. Not much banter but it is a Pharmacist not a butchers. I do feel however I am often battling against the odds just to receive a regular paid for prescription. Never sure I am going to get my prescription from one month to the next! This probably has more to do with the outdated systems they are legally obliged to work within and the fact that Doctors have made themselves almost entirely inaccessible to the vast majority of ordinary working people."

"I was so surprised to read of the negative experiences some people have had. I have been using this pharmacy since way before it 'changed hands', i.e. more than 15 years. My experience is one of friendly, polite and helpful staff. Even yesterday, needing some painkillers, the person serving me was empathic and pro-active in suggesting a combination of over the counter remedies. I guess all people have some 'off days'."

"Went to pick up regular prescription before the end of last year, and was dispensed incorrect medication. However as they had attached their label to it, that was difficult to see. Luckily I had some proper medication in case of emergency. When I returned to pick up more medication and informed them of their error, they intimated that it was my fault for not bringing it back sooner. There was no apology for their dangerous error. Bearing in mind this is during Covid-19 and I had to shield for the last 12 months as someone Extremely Clinically Vulnerable to Covid. This means I limit picking up medication, and indeed leaving the house, until I absolutely have to. This also means insuring I get the correct medication is vital. I suggest people double check their prescriptions before they leave the pharmacy and brace themselves for a rude reaction if the pharmacist has made an error. Update: I received a halfhearted apology from two of the team. However they seem to have missed the broader point: listen to people when they come in. Don’t jump to conclusions and make them feel worse. Do not apply preCovid timescales after Covid, especially for people that are shielding. Anyone can make mistakes, own them. Due to the above, I have changed my pharmacy with the GP. If anyone has issues at this pharmacy and has not been listened to, I suggest you leave a review as you may be taken more seriously, unless they change their paternalist culture."