Catherine Byrne (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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I thank the deputation for the presentation. One of the greatest assets any community can have is a pharmacist who knows the people on a first name basis. That is important because, as the deputation has explained, pharmacists are able to relate to people better. I welcome the fact that the flu vaccination can be given. I also welcome the fact that pharmacists now participate in the methadone treatment service. That is very important, particularly in parts of the community I represent because people do not have to travel and people in other parts of the country do not have to travel either. That is important.

I wrote to the Irish Pharmacy Union some time back with several complaints from families of older people who have been changed onto generic drugs.

Some did not take them because the box was a different colour and they were frightened. A couple of weeks later the pharmacist asked why they did not take them and they said they did not realise they were the right ones because they were a different colour. They do ask the pharmacist to tell older people it is the same drug but in a different box. That is very helpful.

I have seen older family members who are on repeat prescriptions keeping a store of different concoctions in their press. I have told several doctors in my area to make sure that if people have not used drugs they do not leave them lying around because as well as pharmacies being broken into and attacked by people looking for drugs, houses are broken in to and drugs left lying around are taken.

Do pharmacists communicate with people on repeat prescriptions to ask if they taken all the previous medication? I have seen older members of my family storing up drugs. I am concerned for their safety and in general if they are prescribed drugs that they do not need.