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Blood Testing strips

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prancer59

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We have just received a letter from our doctors to say that they will only issue prescriptions for one particular type of Blood testing strips. Are they allowed to do this?

They have offered me a new meter but I have just bought two new meters with the barrel type testing strips (much more convenient that single strips). Surely they must be getting a kick back from the company involved.
 
I dont know the answer to this but would suggest that the single strips are cheaper than the cartridge type. And things inevitably come down to cost especially in todays economic climate.
 
Why not ask the Practice Manager why your choice is being restricted and tell them that you already have meters which you are happy with. See if it is in fact all down to cost !

If they won't give you what you need you could try complaining - you might get them to change their minds. Then again they are not denying you strips just limiting the choice. Something many Practices are doing nowadays despite peoples protests. Try it and see.
 
Nope they can’t is the short answer, only try!

It might be a cost cutting exercise, But I suspect ease and training of the nurses is playing a bigger role in this decision...

There will be diabetic patients who are daily visited by the district nurse, who will be taking BG’s and injecting insulin for patients unable to do these themselves... These patients are in their own home, or residential care

District Nurses, are renowned for not having a glue about various meters or how to use them , so they have to been trained for each meter available, some practices try to get all their patients on the same meter, so that all staff know how to work that one individual meter!

Also some surgeries will invest in the meter software, if everybody is using the same meters, then they only need one software program... Get’s expensive if they have to buy several different program..

But you do have a choice of meters, and the surgery can’t enforce you to comply, as different meters are suitable for different people, as individual ease of use, eyesight and dexterity of the user will mean one meter is better than another..
 
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