Appalling Advice from my GP!

[Della82]

Yesterday I went to my GP to ask for an increase on the quantity of needles I am prescribed (my current prescription is 100 needles every 4 weeks which equates to 3.5 needles each day). As a minimum I use 5 needles per day or 140 needles in a 4 week period (I use levemir twice a day & Apidra 3 times a day if I have 3 meals, no snacks & need no correction doses).
I was astonished when the GP REFUSED to increase the prescription & recommend I REUSE MY NEEDLES!!!
He said there was no problem in reusing my needles & told me to use just one needle on my Apidra & one on my Levemir for each day!!!
I was speechless. I couldn't believe the advice I had just been given. One of the first things I was told when I was diagnosed T1 seven years ago, was NEVER REUSE NEEDLES.
I want to take this issue further because I'm disgusted with this appalling advice... does anyone know what the best course of action would be, who I should report it to & should I ask for a prescription review with another GP at my surgery (it took me over 3 weeks to get the original appointment in the first instance)?

 

[tim2000s]

I wouldn't bother reporting it as something unacceptable, as not undertaking needle reuse is a something of a first world problem.

You are correct in thinking that the GP shouldn't have rejected your request, but you should also understand that for many of us needle reuse was the norm when we had to buy our own pen needles because they weren't available on the NHS.

You'd be surprised how many people do still reuse them.

If you feel that you should complain, first do so to the practice manager.


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[CarbsRok]

I always reused my needles one would last a week and in the good old days when we had harpoons for needles and glass syringes were expected to reuse the needles until blunt and if they became blocked we had to shove a bit of wire through the needle to clear it.

 

[GBS_82_]

I wouldn't bother reporting it as something unacceptable, as not undertaking needle reuse is a something of a first world problem.

You are correct in thinking that the GP shouldn't have rejected your request, but you should also understand that for many of us needle reuse was the norm when we had to buy our own pen needles because they weren't available on the NHS.

You'd be surprised how many people do still reuse them.

If you feel that you should complain, first do so to the practice manager.


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I didn't realise pen needles didn't used to be available on the NHS. When did this change?

 

[donnellysdogs]

Around 30 years ago we had to pay for our syringes and drug addicts got them for nothing. I did a lot of campaigning at the time to get this changed.

I only change my needles when I change my vials in my pens...

Totally uneccesary to change everytime from my point of view...and a waste of insulin priming the needles each time too..

 

[endocrinegremlin]

I have never met a diabetic who actually changed them every time. I mean, I totally went too long but I don't think the Doctor's idea is unreasonable. For those without the NHS changing needles each time is something for the privileged few. Every few days should be fine even. I was like @donnellysdogs and changed mine with refills or at the halfway point of a vial with my basal insulin. Given many diabetics are struggling to get enough test strips for a month I can't see this being a winning fight.

 

[yingtong]

I've been type1 for over 54 years and always reused needles and I have never had a infected site.

 

[Shar67]

Well I change my needles every time, Complain to your local CCG or start with practice manager. NHS have NICE rules to follow and one of them is needles should never be reused. Do you have a DN or diabetes consultant, if you do give them a call.

 

[CarbsRok]

I didn't realise pen needles didn't used to be available on the NHS. When did this change?

Not to sure when pens came in but when we were eventually allowed to have disposable syringes on prescription back in the 80's we were expected to use them for at least a week before disposing of them. The syringes had the needles already attached.

 

[Della82]

Well I change my needles every time, Complain to your local CCG or start with practice manager. NHS have NICE rules to follow and one of them is needles should never be reused. Do you have a DN or diabetes consultant, if you do give them a call.

I do have a DN who is based at my local hospital. I will definitely be contacting her on Monday.
If I'm honest, I'm quite shocked by many of the comments to my thread. Not only does a reused needle cause bruising or possible infection but I'm positive blood could coagulate in the needle & cause an altered insulin dose to be administered.

 

[donnellysdogs]

I've never had any prob in over 30 years of reusing time and time sgain....
I do have the BD Needles which are supposedly better quality. I don't get bruises or blood etc.

Again. As with all of us we are all different. If I was having pain or bruising etc I might have changed more often but I could currently be using 12 needles a day...don't think my GP would like that....

 

[tim2000s]

I do have a DN who is based at my local hospital. I will definitely be contacting her on Monday.
If I'm honest, I'm quite shocked by many of the comments to my thread. Not only does a reused needle cause bruising or possible infection but I'm positive blood could coagulate in the needle & cause an altered insulin dose to be administered.

Your last paragraph is interesting points that are, for the vast majority, just not true.

You bruise if you hit a blood vessel. You are equally likely to do this with a new or old needle. In 27 years I've not had an infection through reuse. And since 99% of the time you shouldn't be hitting blood vessels, you won't be blocking the needle with it. That's also why you do an air shot. It makes sure the needle is cleared


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[ann34+]

Not to sure when pens came in but when we were eventually allowed to have disposable syringes on prescription back in the 80's we were expected to use them for at least a week before disposing of them. The syringes had the needles already attached.

I remember - the disposable syringes came in late 1980's, http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1987/mar/03/diabetics-needles-and-nhs-charges, i was having multiple injections and the needles - thicker than syringe needles now - did get a bit blunt. Before that i was lucky, as my hospital gave me a bag of syringes with no needle (and boxes of needles to attach) at my appointment. There were not many and they had to last until next appointment - by that time, the syringe markings were nearly rubbed out and the needles were re-used till a bit blunt. I had to keep them in a mug in a shared fridge , along with everyone else's food. Pens were a lot later, I kept with syringes, they still had to be re-used as i was having about 10 injections per day. I never got into the habit of using them only once.
I was issued with a large bottle of industrial clear methylated spirit to dip the needles in, but due to new rules relating to alcohol that went from my prescription, and i got a box of Sterets for some years, later they were seen as not good for the skin, and unnecessary. Never had an infection problem with re-using needles or syringes in nearly 30 years, on the pump now.

 

[Della82]

Well, after reading everyone's responses to my post, I did a little research & even though the needle manufacturers quote "for single use only" & previous advice from my DN & other Diabetic specialists, many diabetics reuse their needles with no issues other than a little increased pain.
I stand corrected

 

[noblehead]

I do have a DN who is based at my local hospital. I will definitely be contacting her on Monday.

Yes do that and hopefully the DSN or Consultant will write to your gp and get them to up your prescription, the following article looks at some recent research that would support your case:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/reusing-insulin-pen-needles.html

The pen needles are for single use only and whether people reuse them or not is a personal decision and there's no rights or wrongs, best wishes @Della82

 

[Della82]

Yes do that and hopefully the DSN or Consultant will write to your gp and get them to up your prescription, the following article looks at some recent research that would support your case:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/insulin/reusing-insulin-pen-needles.html

The pen needles are for single use only and whether people reuse them or not is a personal decision and there's no rights or wrongs, best wishes @Della82

Thank you

 

[Dodo]

I've been reusing needles for the past 50 years, so far without any problems. You had to reuse them years ago as you had no choice with the old glass syringe regime, so I just carried on doing so. In my mind I'm saving the NHS money!

 

[lizdeluz]

It's the old conundrum of the tug of war between NHS funding, pharmaceutical companies making money and competing with each other, and the poor patient who has to decide whether he/she is being given good or even correct advice.
I used to re-use needles for weeks on end, and I still do re-use needles on my short-acting. I change my needles each time for my long-acting. I realise this is not logical.
I started changing my needles more often when I read somewhere that not changing your needles led to bruises, infection etc, - effects which, maybe luckily, have never happened to me.
As for wasting insulin by priming the pen (as @donnellysdogs mentioned) , I always thought there is no need to prime unless you are changing the vial?
I felt annoyed, I must admit, when my local practice sent me a letter saying that my pen needles would henceforward be of a cheaper brand. They are weaker and bend/break more easily, but I am managing ok with them, and, as @tim2000s says, only the first world has the luxury of complaining about needles - maybe??
So my current state is one of confusion that I manage in my own way. How great it would be if we had a source of information that was not affected by money!

 

[GrantGam]

And what about changing lancets after every finger prick test? Something which is also recommended...

I like to celebrate my annual lancet change, it's something of a special occasion for me and my finger pricker

Grant

 

[CollieBoy]

And what about changing lancets after every finger prick test? Something which is also recommended...

I like to celebrate my annual lancet change, it's something of a special occasion for me and my finger pricker

Grant

Yep, St Swithins day, according to tradition