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Calling Worcestershire Pump Users!

CakieJ

CakieJ

Member
Messages
8
Location
Worcestershire
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
All the isms-just be nice, it’s free!
Hi, I’m new here so please be gentle?!

I have been on pump therapy for 8 years. The infusion sets for my Medtronic pump do not fit into a 1 litre bin so I have 5 litre bins on prescription. The whole time I have been on a pump I have had to fight to get someone to take the full bins off me. The GP, the council, local pharmacies and hospitals all tell me it’s not their responsibility.

I am about to pursue a complaint with the ICB/council regarding this and have been advised my Worcestershire Healthwatch to see if anyone else in my area has problems like this?

Thank you in advance to anyone who helps by responding. I really appreciate it and I will update this post along the way!

Fingers, toes, arms and everything else crossed!
 
Hello @CakieJ Welcome to the forum - also Worcs based and I run a support group in Worcs called Meter Mates, you can find us on Facebook, we are meeting again in Sept if you would like to join us ?

I don't use a medical disposable bin, I used to have a tiny one for sharps when injecting which my local dispensary took off me, but now using a pump and G6 and all my waste goes into landfill, not ideal but it's the only way I can dispose of it. To my knowledge no one is particularly keen on taking it, however it would save the frustration and mental trauma of pursuing a complaint by using landfill instead, it's the way most of us pump users are disposing of waste products now as they can't be recycled.
 
Juicyj said:
Hello @CakieJ Welcome to the forum - also Worcs based and I run a support group in Worcs called Meter Mates, you can find us on Facebook, we are meeting again in Sept if you would like to join us ?

I don't use a medical disposable bin, I used to have a tiny one for sharps when injecting which my local dispensary took off me, but now using a pump and G6 and all my waste goes into landfill, not ideal but it's the only way I can dispose of it. To my knowledge no one is particularly keen on taking it, however it would save the frustration and mental trauma of pursuing a complaint by using landfill instead, it's the way most of us pump users are disposing of waste products now as they can't be recycled.
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Thank you for responding Juicy J! I suspected that a lot of patients might put the sharps in the general waste, and that has been incredibly tempting over the years! It would certainly save me a lot of anxiety and hassle.

I’m going to keep pushing for a better solution. I know I’m putting myself though additional stress, but I hope it will be worth it in the end!

I would love to join the FB group, and see if I can make the next meet up. Thank you!
 
Hopeful34 said:
@Juicyj Do you mean most pump users in your area don't use sharps bins because of the problem of what to do with them when full?
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No they don't use sharps bins at all - I stopped using them when I went onto a pump, too complicated to try and strip out the steel t sets so I just wrap them into a used cannula set case when using general waste.

@CakieJ Personally i'd start using general waste rather than trying to find an alternative solution to disposal, it's not worth the hassle when we have so much to manage already, keep it simple is my fave saying :)
 
I tried the sure t sets, and just cut the tubing off and put the rest in the 7 litre bin provided by the gp or the council in my area. Told to put the whole Dexcom applicator in as well, so am a bit confused about what's complicated about it.
 
Hopeful34 said:
I tried the sure t sets, and just cut the tubing off and put the rest in the 7 litre bin provided by the gp or the council in my area. Told to put the whole Dexcom applicator in as well, so am a bit confused about what's complicated about it.
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Hi Hopeful34,

Disposal contracts locally only cover 1 litre bins. So it’s very difficult to get rid of my 5 litre bins when full despite the fact the are prescribed to me as no contract exists for this size. I imagine the cost implications are a factor…

Do you live in the Worcs area? Who do you return full 7 litre bin to for disposal?
 
Sorry @CakieJ I was replying to @Juicyj but didn't make that clear. I don't live in your area and find it dreadful that nobody will take full sharps bins for you.

Local council collects them here, so am very fortunate.
 
Hopeful34 said:
I tried the sure t sets, and just cut the tubing off and put the rest in the 7 litre bin provided by the gp or the council in my area. Told to put the whole Dexcom applicator in as well, so am a bit confused about what's complicated about it.
Click to expand...
Sorry maybe overdid the complicated part. just faff to pull the whole thing apart put in sharps bin and try to arrange disposal, much more simple to dispose of in it's container and put into general waste.
 
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