Pharmacist Saves Life of Teenager Who Arrived with 'Sore Throat'

A pharmacist helped save a teenager's life after sending him to the emergency room when he arrived with a “sore throat.”

Helen Carey, who works at Boots in High Street, Storrington, was visited by a mother who asked about her 16-year-old son, who was at home with a sore throat.

She said: “A mother came to me and said she had a teenage son at home who had a sore throat and was having difficulty speaking and wanted to know if we could help him. I asked her to bring him in so I could see him and examine his throat.

“As soon as he walked through the door the alarm bells were ringing, he was holding a wastepaper basket and drooling in it, he could barely speak.”

Helen Carey referred the teenager to the emergency room (Image: Boots)

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Helen believes she spotted her symptoms thanks to new 'Pharmacy First' training, which allows pharmacies to offer patients access to more advice, treatment and some prescription medications.

“Remembering the training we had received and the symptoms of epiglottitis, I told her mother to take her to the emergency room immediately,” Helen said.

The teenager was taken to Worthing Emergency Department and was quickly seen by staff who decided he needed to be taken to the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Brighton.

The teenager's father, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Further tests showed that a viral infection was causing swelling in his airways. He was admitted to hospital overnight and given medication and treatment.

“I can’t thank pharmacist Helen enough. During the conversations that followed, she told me she knew he was not well at all and needed urgent medical attention. Thank you Boots Storrington, you are a credit to the community.”

The boy's father has since gone to the pharmacy to thank Helen.

Helen said: “He told me his son might not be here if I hadn't sent him to hospital immediately.”

Claire Nevinson, Chief Pharmacist at Boots, said: “Patients in England have welcomed Pharmacy First as a convenient way to access advice and treatment for a range of common minor conditions. Many consultations take place outside of normal GP hours, making it easier for patients to get the care they need, when they need it.”