As a pump user I travel a lot, yes my hand luggage is a pure medical bag most of the time and contains my spare old pump (Medtronic) and all insulin and other drugs I take. I always have a letter from my Doctor and Hospital and one from Medtronic. On a recent trip which was to be one month going to Amsterdam then on to Cape Town for 3 weeks I was fully prepared or so I thought. I was flying from Cyprus via Athens to Schipol. At Cyprus I went through security showed my letter had usual pat down and swabs etc. of medical equipment, all good. At athens I had to go through same procedure some confusion with the pump but when I got a supervisor again all okay. Arrived Schipol and stayed a week in Amsterdam, lovely weeks break there and great people the Dutch for sure. Next step fly Schipol to Heathrow, Schipol equipped with full body scanners declared pump user all the usual things and could I avoid scanner. No problems all checked polite and very understanding. I must state I have no problems with security checks as they are essential in the times we live in and I always declare what medical equipment I have before going through security and give copy of letters stating not to put equipment through scanners or x ray equipment, fine on metal detector gate though. I arrive in Heathrow, oh boy what a reception at security!!! I declare I am wearing a pump and it is advised I do not go through the Body scanner or put the pump through x ray machine. I am met with a sharp response that I have to go through the body scanner no matter what!!! I politely point out that it is okay to do a pat down search etc. I am told again I must go through the scanner and my spare pump must go through the x ray machine. At this point I refuse and ask for a body search. After some fifteen minutes I am taken away to a room and given a body search with this guy telling me that UK do things different as opposed to other countries, really thinks me? but put up with a rather intimate body search at least the worst I have had. Eventually I was swabbed and all was okay for me to proceed to my transfer flight. Boy was I angry at my treatment by now. On my return trip all airports were straightforward and Heathrow were much more professional but still had to explain no xray please because etc. I have travelled extensively to America, Middle East, Far east, and all over Europe with no problems declaring my pump etc. However I always have major problems at Heathrow Airport, they are rude and to be quite honest extremely blunt and cause extreme embarrassment to passengers like me even when we do everything we should! I know this is a bit of a rant but they are extremely poor, and remember My problems went on for fifteen minutes in full view of other passengers and it was not the first time this has happened, plus they escort me to the room for a search!!!. My second time at Heathrow was an improvement and there were announcements that UK checks may differ from other countries so maybe by standing my ground someone may have picked up on it! Over to other pumpers for comment. Heathrow Security staff please note there are ways to do things correctly, politely, and with some courtesy and the job you have to do which is important will get done as well!