MY FIRST DN APPOINTMENT

[kimbo1962]

just back from my first appointment with the DN.....gave me in general more info and support than the Nurse practitioner I saw at diagnosis, I went in smiling and positive armed with my recent levels, she seemed impressed with my averages and my lchf regime, though took bloods for another hba1c and said she would check liver and cholesterol, surprised the NP had not referred me for my eye check - so that is now being done, back in 9 days for blood results and feet check! Overall, I felt it was good-looking she said one of the other nurses would be impressed with my approach and my enthusiasm for our forum here and I was well informed. Only niggle today was when I requested a copy of my results at reception- I was asked who had said I could have them, she went off too see the manager.......returning to tell me there would be a £10 charge for the print out??????!!! Charged for our own results????? Hmmm.......pondering on that one, May just raise a "complaint" with practice manager!!

 

[mo1905]

Nice progress but £10 for a print out ???? That's disgusting. Maybe just call them and say don't worry about print out, just give me the results and you can write them down yourself ? You are entitled to see your results.

 

[Bluetit1802]

it all sounds like a positive meeting and a more enlightened nurse. She certainly can't criticise you for your average levels, they are excellent. Let's hope the HbA1c reflects this. I cannot believe they tried to charge you for your blood print outs!! Never heard of that one before. In fact, I don't think it's legal never mind anything else. You are entitled to these. I've had mine from the GP surgery and the hospital (not diabetes related) on many occasions. The hospital even post mine to me when I ring and ask. No-one has ever quibbled and I certainly haven't been charged. I've also received print outs of various path lab reports following biopsies and operations!

 

[kimbo1962]

it all sounds like a positive meeting and a more enlightened nurse. She certainly can't criticise you for your average levels, they are excellent. Let's hope the HbA1c reflects this. I cannot believe they tried to charge you for your blood print outs!! Never heard of that one before. In fact, I don't think it's legal never mind anything else. You are entitled to these. I've had mine from the GP surgery and the hospital (not diabetes related) on many occasions. The hospital even post mine to me when I ring and ask. No-one has ever quibbled and I certainly haven't been charged. I've also received print outs of various path lab reports following biopsies and operations!

Thank you both.......Bluetit- believe me I won't just let it go or pay up.......I'm a firm believer in standing to things like this and for righting wrongs!! I would be back on the phone now if I wasn't going to work, day off tomorrow so a call will be made to start !!

 

[Squire Fulwood]

I have been Googling to see if I could find out anything useful.

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/pages/1309.aspx?categoryid=68

I didn't find the news very helpful.

Since I just ask the receptionist who prints out anything I like for free I find your surgery positively unhelpful.

 

[noblehead]

Pleased you had a positive outcome. As with regards to your results, just ask the nurse there and then to write them all down for you, there's no need to pay £10 as that is a complete rip-off.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Yes, you have aright to your results. You would need to pay for a complete medical history print-out but for a sheet or two £10 is a rip-off and you need to complain. If necessary just ask reception to write down the key results

 

[sanguine]

I still never got an appointment for a retinopathy check since April - so I'm just advancing my regular biannual check, it's free now both on age and diabetic grounds!

£10 for a printout? About as money grabbing as prescribing statins for a cold ...

 

[eddie1968]

Ten quid for a print out, that's the dearest photocopy I've come across. I'm glad I'm under a Consultant Diabetologist and DSN now as my Practice Nurse kept putting me oral stuff which made me extremely ill and my HbA1c's were not coming own. I lost faith in her and my GP made an urgent referral for specialist care as I was hyperglycaemic constantly (20 mmol/l >). They're coming down now and I feel better after moving on.

 

[donnellysdogs]

I have never heard of any Practice charging for printouts of test results.

Your Practice should have displayed what they charge for.. I.e malaria jabs, holiday jabs, sicknotes...They have to display what services or items they charge for. If blood test results are not displayed as chargeable then you should point out their errors, or contact your PPG Chairperson to take this up for you as a matter of concern. Either way, if they do not display, then you should not pay....


Loving life

 

[donnellysdogs]

You should request that your money is refunded. If not, I would actually take this matter up with Trading Standards, review them on nhs choices -this warns other patients (if you want to do it anonymously you can).
This I believe, is actually against NHS policy and a letter could be sent even to your MP.
As the government is intending that all NHS patients will be able to review their test results online, I know this is against NHS guidelines and you should be able to get a refund.
Did they give you a receipt for your £10?


Loving life

 

[kimbo1962]

I didnt pay - was shocked and only after did i think how wrong it is......will be checking their list of charges and as above, if test results arent mentioned i shall start the wheels in motion !!

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[mo53]

Hello Kimbo. This is an interesting thread. I hope you let us know how you get on with the printout charge. Im curious. Why did you change from metformin?

 

[kimbo1962]

Metformin gave me bad tummy problems and i felt awful!! Dapa is SO much better!!

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[mo53]

Thanks kimbo. I was prescribed metformin today. I was told that tummy problems were a possible side effect. I will let you know how I get on.

 

[eddie1968]

Metformin made me extremely ill. Vomiting and constant diarrhoea from the start and was kept on mega doses for ages. The practice nurse didn't really know that I had bowel disease before and after several operations have less than half left. I got took off it immediately when I queried this with my GP. Metformin works for some but they prescribe it first because it is CHEAP as chips.

 

[mo53]

Hello Eddie. Thanks for that information. I had a feeling they were cheap.nThe NHS is so predictable isn't it. Are you ok now on your new presciption?

 

[Pipp]

just back from my first appointment with the DN.....gave me in general more info and support than the Nurse practitioner I saw at diagnosis, I went in smiling and positive armed with my recent levels, she seemed impressed with my averages and my lchf regime, though took bloods for another hba1c and said she would check liver and cholesterol, surprised the NP had not referred me for my eye check - so that is now being done, back in 9 days for blood results and feet check! Overall, I felt it was good-looking she said one of the other nurses would be impressed with my approach and my enthusiasm for our forum here and I was well informed. Only niggle today was when I requested a copy of my results at reception- I was asked who had said I could have them, she went off too see the manager.......returning to tell me there would be a £10 charge for the print out??????!!! Charged for our own results????? Hmmm.......pondering on that one, May just raise a "complaint" with practice manager!!

Under the terms of the data protection act they cannot withhold info they have on you. They are only allowed to charge for the cost of the printout. A few pence? Not allowed to make a profit. Complain to manager in first instance if no result Clinical Commissioning group.

 

[eddie1968]

Mo, I'm gradually improving now that I am on insulin (and a lot of it too lol) and it has no side effects but you do have to monitor your blood glucose every day and do injections...a lot of "ouch" in my life now. Thanks for asking, appreciated.

 

[eddie1968]

Mo, I'm gradually improving now that I am on insulin (and a lot of it too lol) and it has no side effects but you do have to monitor your blood glucose every day and do injections...a lot of "ouch" in my life now. Thanks for asking, appreciated.