FlicketyB We are supposed to be registered with the TPS too, so I'll try that strategy next time.
Roses the practice manager reassured me that the practice hadn't passed on my details. He emailed me copies of correspondence to practices from the North-east Commissioning Support Group, showing the level of concern about the activities of this company and asking for complaints from patients to be fed back to them via a questionnaire.
I've just emailed the NECS with details of the conversation I had.
I think the most pertinent questions were
Did the caller state they were a marketing company working on behalf of registered pharmacies? -No
Did the caller state they were operating on behalf of the NHS? - Not quite, they said they were 'in partnership'
Did the caller claim to be calling on behalf of any particular GP or GP practice? - No but implied it by saying they were working with 'your GP practice'.
Apparently this company is not doing anything illegal, but the morality of this behaviour within a healthcare setting is dubious indeed.
I was going to compare them with double-glazing salesmen, but that would be an insult to the double-glazing companies, most of whom probably have more ethics in their big toe than the Pharmacy Initiative.
Alphabetical girls and boys names January 2024
NEW GAME - ALPHABETICAL groups/bands