I had to ring the GP yesterday to get my perscriptions re-autherised, and asked them to change the strips to a different type, and the doc I spoke to did not have a clue what PIP codes were and then went on to put the wrong strips on the repeat form, even thogh gave them all the details, (as I found out today).
I had already made a diabetic review appointment as been on gliclazde around a month and wanted a new base line to work from and to see if weight, blood pressure was up. I mentioned about the meter and strip problems. In the case of the meters they no longer provide them as from what I understood they could be pushing one supplier in preferance to another one.
Tests strips is a bit different, while the nurse was trying to sort out my perscriptions (pending doctors approval) it was mentioned that with the GP's practice some doctors did not have a problem issueing perscriptions while others were not keen on issueing perscriptions for the strips. As the perscription for my strips is waiting for a doctor to sign it, I am waiting to see if I get any. I did mention if the qty could now be increased as I am now testing a lot more (due to the gliclazide effects) and she was not very hopefull on this ocasion and said to wait to see how the current request goes and then ring her if I have any problems.
Get the feeling that they are just as frustrated as there no common standard even within the same GP practice.