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Remind me never to develop anaphylaxis in the UK

Monday, May 21st, 2007

Because, apparently, British pharmacists have never heard of it and don’t know it when they see it. A 28-year-old woman went into anaphylactic shock after being stung by a wasp and she got the “oh, you’re just being hysterical” treatment when she went to a pharmacy and asked for help.

“I got to the nearby pharmacy, but when I asked for something I was told to drive myself to A&E.

“I couldn’t believe what I was being told. My heart had started racing and my head was tingling.

“I said I couldn’t, so the member of staff said I would have to catch a taxi.

“She even said I was feeling ill because I was panicking and told me to calm down. It was then that I collapsed”.

And, apparently, this isn’t just an isolated incident. But, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society doesn’t think it’s a problem.

Maybe I’ve been watching too much House, or maybe peanut (and other anaphylaxis-causing) allergies are unheard of in the UK… but if you’re even remotely connected to healthcare services and someone staggers up to you and says “I was stung by a wasp and now I’m dizzy and my heart is racing”, you really have no excuse not to realize what’s going on. Hell, the only appropriate response to “Help me, I’m dizzy and my heart is racing” is “I’ll call you an ambulance right away”, not “Oh, you must just be getting the vapors, my dear. Here are some smelling salts.” Geeze.