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Am I a cynic? Strained Gp relationship

Join your PPG for your Practice and voice concerns for all type 1's that are getting restricted.. If you make it as a general concern for all patients and not base it directly (although it can be linked) to yoursel then it is warranted as a concern as it affects all T1's.

Also for all patients... As a raiser of concerns... You are entitled from the Freedom of Information Act 2000 to ask your CCG's which Practice has issued most blood strips in monetary value for 2014/2015.

This may give you more information that is necessary in considering which GP Practice in your areas are best to register with.
 
This is why I signed up a couple of weeks ago to see if others were having the same difficulties as I have getting insulin.

Once again last week my insulin was cut down, I'm getting to the point where i'm going to go to the Court of Human Rights.
 
Grandpa Munster said:
This is why I signed up a couple of weeks ago to see if others were having the same difficulties as I have getting insulin.

Once again last week my insulin was cut down, I'm getting to the point where i'm going to go to the Court of Human Rights.
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You don't need the court of human rights. By restricting your insulin, they are risking your life and therefore committing medical negligence.

Have you discussed with them what was suggested to you in the thread you started yet? All those suggestions are likely to get you a result.
 

Thanks Donnellysdogs, that's really helpful
 
Hi Grandpa Munster and TIms2000
I just read back to the initial thread by Munster and posted advice by Tims2000 with interest. I am not sure why I didn't manage to find this topic when I searched the threads, but anyway - found reading it very useful. And astounding about the insulin restriction Grandpa Munster - my experience pales in comparison. From what I have read over the last few days on this site, it seems that there is ever increasing pressure on supplies for Type 1s in some places, yet other people report no problems at all. Makes these forums even more valuable.
 
Change your GP immediately. I suffered similar or worse from my GP. I strongly insisted i be referred to a specialist diabetes team then I changed GP. I placed an official complaint with the NHS and the GP subsequently left the practice. My care team is now top notch. I believe the action I took may have saved me from serious complications. It's "your" diabetes, not your GP's. He seems to be a moron if you ask me.
 
Hi, Mattzuma, glad you got things sorted so well - I was wondering, given my 2 post 2013 experiences, and my finding that things i had relied on for help with another strip refusal and change of GP some years ago no longer existed, did what you describe happen before April 2013, or more recently? Thanks, Ann
 
mattzuma said:
Hi. My memory is a bit hazy but I think it all happened early in 2012.
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Thanks, Mattzuma, i was hoping it might have been post 2013, so i could understand how you had dealt with the complaints system since the Health and Social Care Act changes. Best wishes, Ann
 
Hi Mattzuma, thanks for sharing your experience. Well.....my GP certainly gives the impression he thinks I am an idiot anyway, by the way he tries to fob me off all the time!

Interesting to hear that you and others have successfully lodged complaints about your GPs. I am no shrinking violet by any means, and like to think I can advocate for myself reasonably, strongly and with evidence, but suspect that even raising my issues with the Practice Manager would get a closing ranks type response, and probably a good deal of 'stock' replies.....rather than the feedback being actually heard. But hey, that's a tad cynical of me!

I am trying today to in the first instance, get my prescription signed off - luckily I am not running low on supplies, but all it takes is a few pump errors to use up a fair bit of insulin. I have a feeling I might be talking to the Practice Manager sooner rather than later!
 
Hi,I am new to the site and interested to read of other people's experiences.

I have had type 1 for over 30 years and have worked in the NHS and as a lawyer in the field of medical negligence.

A few years ago, I had a pretty big heart attack which slowed me down a bit and I we well remember virtually every doctor in hospital assuming that I had type 2 and was a smoker! So, don't assume that the average medic has any particular interest in you unless you stand up for yourself and make him/her listen - and that's not always easy!

My one simple piece of advice to anyone having problems with getting hold of drugs/supplies is to politely ask why IN WRITING! Forget email or telephone, a nice written reply from the surgery on their headed paper gives you a big advantage if they are in the wrong...
 
Hi and welcome @Hannibalvolvo . Sounds as if you're managing your T1 nicely. You'll be extremely helpful here with your inside knowledge and refreshing view of NHS "professionals". Hope you'll stick around.
 
Thanks for the advice Hannibalvolvo - I hadn't thought of writing to the GP, though it often works well in other areas of life as you say to have something in writing. I might well try that - particularly seeing my particular practice doesn't seem to have adopted electronic communication (and sometimes verbal to be frank!)

Yes I agree with DeejayR - welcome Hannibalvolvo, hope you will stick around and help enlighten us about inner workings of NHS
 
My prescription has finally been signed off by the GP today (what is actually in it remains to be seen) - what a palaver! Though I did have to make an appointment for a few weeks time for this unspecified review - I will see what is on the agenda then. Its hard to tell why I was unable to get a telephone review - the GP never returned my call yesterday - not sure if that is him or lost in communication via the receptionists.

Ironically, although trying to put in my prescription in plenty time to avoid running out of supplies, I was thinking if this didn't get resolved soon I might have to resort to using my 'back up' emergency BG monitor supplies in the interim......which I gather caused part of the problem with issuing the prescription, as these had been 'removed' from my prescription. Are any other pump users having their emergency (pump failure) back ups removed? (e.g. spare strips, penfill injections and associated paraphernalia?)

Thank you all for your advice and comments - not least of all on behalf of my family who didn't have to listen to my ranting of an evening (well not much anyway!)
 
Thanks for the welcome guys!

I have spent the last 25 years sueing the NHS so it was pretty ironic when I found myself in an ITU following a heart attack probably brought on by Type 1 at the age of 50!

I manage my type 1 as well as I can but there's always someone without this ****** disease who knows more about it than you do....

Over the years, it hasn't stopped me studying at postgraduate level, running my own business, running a small farm, restoring classic cars, playing most sports and doing a bit of sailing and mountaineering.

I get down at times but I try not to obsess about diabetes - I am a lawyer with diabetes -not, 'a diabetic!'
 
Hannibalvolvo said:
Over the years, it hasn't stopped me studying at postgraduate level, running my own business, running a small farm, restoring classic cars, playing most sports and doing a bit of sailing and mountaineering.
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So, busy Mondays then. What about the rest of the week?
 
I have used needles instead of pens and just use bolus insulin effectively the twice when I've had catastrophe with pumps. So just put needle in my novorapid that I have.
Glucogel tends to just go out of date in fridge so I just online request it no problems.

Some GP's and this may be a sensible suggestion for yours have it set up on their system when reviews are due and it is automatically printed on the repeat white part of the prescription. Even if your chemist gets your prescriptions for you, you should have a white part to tick or cross and sign to notice this f your review is due.
It would be great if all the NHS and GP's worked on the same systems but they don't. Ehat one Practice does doesn't mean its the same 1 mile down the road!
Good luck at your appt, let us know why your GP couldn't do a phone review..!!
 
As a T1 I was told at first I needed to be treated as an outpatient from the hospital/health authority. I last saw a consultant in Nov 2013, we have both rescheduled 1 each to be fair. My GP practice has started to invite me to diabetes clinics, but I have no desire to attend, my HBA1C is great, and I get nothing from the NHS in terms of practical advice. The exception to that was a sports dietician I saw who was great.

Self accountability is the way to go.
 
Its all about targets unfortunately. I'm amazed that after being reviewed by a superb Hospital Consultant, a useless GP DSN, I also get politely asked by our Pharmacy Manager to have a review too.
I think she is lovely so I don't mind and its always about my pump and what works to make me so good. Out of everybody, the pharmacist is the person who has actually listened and pretty much the nicest person to het along with.
I find it interesting to analyse bevcause although they are all medically trained it is the pharmacist that is also the most talkative, helpful and communicative person from all the professionals.
 
Totally agree Donnellysdogs, I've consistently found pharmacists the best - helpful, interested, human! They have certainly been the most helpful and cooperative when I have been having difficulties with errors on GP prescriptions. A cynic could say that's because that's because a pharmacy is a business and operates like one in needing to deliver good customer service.....but I think there's more to it than that and the pharmacists I have encountered have seemed genuinely interested and empathic.

Thanks for the good luck wishes - I will say to the GP about the phone review and let you know what response I get.
 
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