Cost of test strips

[dad101255]

Hi, after nearly forty years with Diabetes I've just discovered the website. It will change my life. Anyhow, on with the subject. Whilst browsing I've found a number of posts referring to the cost of test strips and other paraphernalia. My GP prescribes as many test strips as I need and I've never paid for ANY prescription in my life. I have an NHS PRESCRIPTION CHARGE EXEMPTION CERTIFICATE type 'Medical Exemption'. These last 5 years and are always simply reissued. I guess if you simply ask at your GP or local Pharmacy they'll give you the info. Your local health authority may have a different policy but I don't see why, prescription charges are a national

 

[Dennis]

Hi Dad101255,

As you have said, all diabetics who are on medication are entitled to free prescriptions. But that is not the issue with test strips. Many doctors are simply refusing to prescribe them at all (in complete contravention of government and NICE instructions) on the grounds that they cost the NHS too much. As a result many patients are simply not testing or are having to pay for test strips themselves (i.e. buying them privately from the chemists). This is a very dubious and short-sighted situation because if people are not allowed to test strips then they will be unable to control their blood sugars and run a very high risk of all the diabetes related problems that arise from poor control. In the long term these problems will cost the NHS far more than a few test strips.

If your GP is giving you all the test strips that you need then thank your lucky stars, because there are huge numbers of patients whose GPs are letting them down badly.