Access to testing supplies query

[debs248]

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere but I'm quite a thorough reader of this forum and it hasn't leapt out at me.

I'm currently livid (please excuse the rage-verbosity that I experience while angry) as a recent unsatisfactory telephone appointment with a nurse at my surgery has led to the removal of test strips and lancets from my repeat prescription.

I've read the pinned thread https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/th...-supplies-incl-test-strips.19002/#post-173253

but need to check some things before I gird my loins for battle.

The NICE guidelines quoted have been superseded by

Overview | Type 2 diabetes in adults: management | Guidance | NICE

www.nice.org.uk

I've only skim-read them so far but haven't seen anything similar to the old 1.4.2

Does anyone know where it is? I'm just too exhausted to look thoroughly for myself at the moment and I don't trust my husband's suggestion of asking AI to do it for me.

Alternatively, how did others who have successfully got test strips prescribed argue their case?

(I may need to edit this post but I'm uploading it now anyway as I can feel the adrenalin wearing off and just want to crawl into bed and have a good cry. Having something to eat would probably be a good idea too)

Thanks everyone, you're a lot more help than the NHS “professionals” I've encountered.

 

[Rachox]

1.6.12 onwards in this link looks to be the current advice. In all my 8 years I have never got lancets or strips on prescription, so I suppose the only consolation for you is that you’ve been allowed to have them up to now. I personally think this is very short sighted by the NHS, paying for testing stuff now could save them money in the future treating avoidable complications.

Recommendations | Type 2 diabetes in adults: management | Guidance | NICE

www.nice.org.uk

 

[debs248]

It makes me angry (surprise!) that it's down to luck.

Hoping at some point to encounter an enlightened, forward-thinking health professional locally. Certainly going to avoid the nurse responsible for the latest fiasco, but who knows if the next one will be an improvement?

 

[Rokaab]

It is of course possible that its your local CCG or surgery that's done the crackdown rather than your particular nurse though

 

[Mark Rawlinson]

I was under the impression if you are diabetic you do not pay for any prescription

 

[Rokaab]

I was under the impression if you are diabetic you do not pay for any prescription

debs248 is saying though that they no longer get test strips and lancets on their prescription anymore (and wasn't saying anything about paying for prescriptions)

[Also I believe only those on diabetes meds get free prescriptions, if its being controlled by diet alone you do not get the exemption I think - but thats not the point being made here anyway]

 

[debs248]

It is of course possible that its your local CCG or surgery that's done the crackdown rather than your particular nurse though

That had crossed my mind. The timing is rather suspicious though...

In May, (while still taking Gliclazide) I was praised by "Nurse 1" for my BG record-keeping and lowering of numbers.

In July, long after Gliclazide was stopped, "Nurse 2" looked at my spreadsheet of BG results. In no way did she suggest that I should stop testing.

At the beginning of August I ordered my supplies via the NHS app as usual.

A week ago, "Nurse 3" told me I didn't need to test any more. She did not mention that it was surgery or CCG practice to stop prescribing them or that she would be doing so. Other things said by her during the consultation suggested to me that she was planning some sort of act of petty revenge on me for asking intelligent questions. It was a phone call so no body language to compare with tone of voice. Goodness knows what she's written in my medical records.

Today I go to order lancets (they needed ordering twice as often than test strips which seems a bit odd) and both they and test strips are missing from the list.

 

[Angela64]

When requesting your medication etc supplies take a photo of it on the screen. If it disappears you can address it, maybe their system has problems???? [emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]]