Consistently Poor Service and Unethical Practices by Dee - Posted on 05 July 2024 My husband, who suffers from rheumatoid arthritis and has difficulty walking, frequently visits this pharmacy, and each time he is told that it will take 20 minutes to dispense his prescription. This has been a consistent issue, and it seems as though the staff are deliberately delaying the process to encourage customers to shop while they wait. Regardless of the time of day, the standard response is always "20 minutes." This tactic feels highly unethical, especially considering that people visiting the pharmacy are often unwell and in need of timely assistance. Today, I went to the pharmacy myself with a painful fungal toe infection that made walking extremely difficult. Before going in, I called the pharmacy multiple times, but the phone rang out and then disconnected each time. When I mentioned this to the pharmacist I spoke to, they acknowledged that the phone should be answered and seemed aware that this is an ongoing issue. Had someone answered, they could have prepared my medication in advance, allowing me to pick it up quickly and minimise my discomfort. Instead, I was told to wait 20 minutes, which I refused to do because it is an unreasonable amount of time to wait when you are in pain and unwell. To add to the frustration, the lady at the counter blamed the delay on a water leak, but this issue has been ongoing regardless of any supposed leaks. Interestingly, when I refused to wait, my prescription was suddenly ready in under 5 minutes. This experience clearly suggests that the pharmacy staff could process prescriptions more quickly but choose not to. This raises serious ethical concerns about their practices. In summary, the service at Tesco Pharmacy Dudley is extremely disappointing. The consistent delays in processing prescriptions seem designed to force customers to shop, which is unacceptable, particularly for those who are sick and in need of quick medication access. We will never use this pharmacy again and strongly urge Tesco to address these issues promptly to ensure a more compassionate and efficient service for all its customers. This ongoing situation is unacceptable and needs immediate attention. read more