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Prescription labels on top of Braille

(2 Posts)
Baggs Thu 22-Oct-26 12:48:14

I've just rung my local pharmacy to request that they don't stick prescription medicine labels on top of the Braille on the outsides of boxes. The pharmacist was lovely and said she'd made a note on my 'account' so that they'll know not to do this in future.

I thanked her as she was so nice about it.....BUT – as I thought but didn't say – why on earth would a pharmacist have to be asked that in the first place? Isn't it patently obvious that it's portentially not a good idea? And why, then, do most of the boxes have another side that specifically says "stick pharmacy label HERE" (or words to that effect)?

Some years ago I emailed the same company that runs that pharmacy to make the same request. There have been several changes of staff since then. I astonishes me that apparently qualified pharmacists have to be 'taught' such a thing.

I'm not blind, by the way. I just decided that it would be useful to be able to read Braille on medicine packets so that, if I needed something during the night, I wouldn't have to switch a light on and disturb MrB. I have devised other ways of checking what I'm looking for too. But imagine what it must be like to be actually blind and have to ask for people to be just.... welll.... sensible!

Baggs Thu 22-Oct-26 12:51:53

My mum was registered blind after many years of macular degeneration and she alerted me to other isssues that most people aren't aware of, such as coloured print on coloured labels where the lack of contrast makes stuff very difficult to read. Even with my glasses on and no MD, I often need a magnifying glass for such stuff.