I use the insulin pump but have an insulin pen in case of emergencies. Last week, I checked my pen to make sure it was still working. I dialled up 20 units and put it into the outer needle cover. The insulin barely filled a quarter of it. This was a Novo Junior Pen which I'd had for years. I contacted my nurse, as I couldn't remember the name of the Novo replacement for the Junior, and she told me to ask my GP for the Echo pen.
I contacted my practice and asked for a new pen, explaining that the one I'd been using was no longer manufactured and that I required a Novopen Echo. I received a phone call the next day (from a receptionist) asking me to explain exactly what I was asking for. I told her why I required the new pen and she asked who had told me to ask for the Echo. When I said it was my DSN, she said they would need a letter from my nurse as it was against protocol for them to prescribe a new pen.
I expressed my surprise at this, as they had prescribed the Junior Pen in the past, so surely they could prescribe its replacement. She said she would tell the doctor what I'd said but I would still probably need a letter from my DSN, before they could prescribe a new pen.
I received a call a few hours later and was told the doctor had agreed to prescribe the Echo pen but I would have to ask my nurse for a letter. It seems they are willing to prescribe cartridges for the pen but not the pen itself!
Today I went to Boots to collect my pen (having left plenty of time for them to order it) only to be told a batch of Echo pens had been recalled and their suppliers hadn't delivered my ordered pen. Boots will contact me asap to let me know when they expect a delivery. Who would have thought it would be so difficult to order a new insulin pen?
I contacted my practice and asked for a new pen, explaining that the one I'd been using was no longer manufactured and that I required a Novopen Echo. I received a phone call the next day (from a receptionist) asking me to explain exactly what I was asking for. I told her why I required the new pen and she asked who had told me to ask for the Echo. When I said it was my DSN, she said they would need a letter from my nurse as it was against protocol for them to prescribe a new pen.
I expressed my surprise at this, as they had prescribed the Junior Pen in the past, so surely they could prescribe its replacement. She said she would tell the doctor what I'd said but I would still probably need a letter from my DSN, before they could prescribe a new pen.
I received a call a few hours later and was told the doctor had agreed to prescribe the Echo pen but I would have to ask my nurse for a letter. It seems they are willing to prescribe cartridges for the pen but not the pen itself!
Today I went to Boots to collect my pen (having left plenty of time for them to order it) only to be told a batch of Echo pens had been recalled and their suppliers hadn't delivered my ordered pen. Boots will contact me asap to let me know when they expect a delivery. Who would have thought it would be so difficult to order a new insulin pen?
