i don't believe gp's

Does your GP manage you diabetes care or do you have a diabetes team at your hospital?

I ask because I had a similar issue when I switched to a pump.
As soon as they were made aware, my hospital team contacted my GP and the problem was rectified immediately.
I think they have more power than a mere patient.

Angusc said:

hi all, I'v just found out that my GP set my prescription for my new insulin to 1 vial per prescription and 1 per month max and currently got less than a week left with 2.5 weeks before i can get a a new one total stupidity just phone my GP. i only found out 2 weeks after making 3 requests from pharmacy this morning they they told me that the GP had just not replied to them.

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Hi @Angusc , agree with @helensaramay above. If you do need to contact your GP practice you could try the practice manager (like a business manager), then the Senior Partner (senior clinician), then NHS England 03003 11 22 33 *resting head in hands and rocking/sobbing icon in here please....no wonder we feel like oliver twist..please sir can I have some more...grrrRRR. Good luck @Angusc , I hope you find a resolution x

Normally, you can call up the surgery and ask them to call you back urgently on something like this. They'll normally call you back the same day and you can discuss it like adults. They will usually then fix the issue.

If that doesn't work, then I make a scene, walk into the reception and tell the receptionist that I'd like to see the doctor to fix it there and then, and unless I do, I will be informing the entire waiting room that the surgery is acting in a negligent way and recommend that they might want to find a different GP as this one clearly doesn't know what they are doing. I've only had to do that once. It's surprisingly effect, especially if you remain calm, cool and collected as you do it...

One of the things with the repeat prescription forms is that every item list as 'next issue due' then a date a month on from that script, if I look at my repeat forms there's stuff I've not had for a while so next due last June, when they first started this I moaned to my Drs that sooner or later there'd be issues, I'd say to request a call back from a doctor at your surgery and explain it to them.

Usually slowly and if needs be repeat yourself a couple of times as it's a disgrace that a T1 is getting a vial at a time.

I'm T2 so don't have this problem thankfully. I don't trust my surgery and pharmacy to communicate effectively though so I always order the repeat prescription myself and then collect it from the surgery and take it to the pharmacy myself. I realise not all surgery's will do this but I hate other people being in control of my life, it's so annoying when they mess up.

Hi. After this episode I would suggest you get online with your surgery (they must provide this access and CCGs are now actively encouraging it) so you can book prescriptions online with the surgery. Don't use the pharmacy to arrange prescriptions as it's not the best approach. With my online access I can order the next prescription around 3 weeks after the last one rather than 4 weeks. I also build-up a small stock as I know I will be using it and not wasting it. Basically take control

This thread is depressing and worrying. At present I have no issues. In fact I put my repeat into my pharmacy this Monday At 4pm. Tuesday at 1pm I had a text message to say it was ready. A box of 5 Humalog 4 Toujeo, 200 Test strips, 200 needles and a sharps box. The full works. Obviously I don’t get all of everything every month, though I always get the test strips in case I am not wearing a Libre. I can also get Libre off the shelf at this pharmacy and bought two whilst there. It must be very stressful to have difficulty obtaining enough supplies.

As this appears to impacting just you at the moment either a poorly thought out law has just come into effect or there are some serious problems at that surgery / GP or by the sound of it a combination of the above. Drs and surgery's are just the same as car mechanics, checkout attendants etc, there are some really great ones and some really bad ones. Then there is another factor of a clash of personalities.

It doesn't matter which is the case, it's imperative that our Diabetes gets the attention they crave and demand. By the sound of it you need to go Dr shopping starting at another surgery, irregardless of the law as they been poor in communicating with you and others.

The people at my surgery who deal with my prescription know about as much about type 1 diabetes as I do about brain surgery - I know it exists but wouldn't know where to start managing it.
Thankfully, this means they do nothing but accept whatever my hospital diabetes team prescribes and copies my request from one system to the next. So the most common error (only happened a couple of times) is when they mistype "Novorapid" as "Lantus" and prescribe the wrong insulin.
I dread the day when my surgery work out there are cheaper meters/test strips/insulins/... out there and start to diverge from the specialists. I have my speech prepared just in case.

Hi @Angusc, Some GPs fax through a script to the pharmacy if it is urgent. The fact that your GP reportedly did not return calls from your pharmacist shows that that system is dysfunctional when it comes to getting urgent things done. Maybe the pharmacy needs to establish a code system whereby the urgent script is marked that way and sent to doctor AND practice manager with a deadline. Script done and faxed a.s.a.p.
I know others have suggested that you contact the GP, practice manager, in an escalating fashion. That may work as well, though if your GP is slack you may still be left waiting.
There are complaint mechanisms also if your troubles recur.
But perhaps ask the practice manager to ensure your GP does not make the same mistake again. What is on his computer regarding your scripts needs alteration and some alert to ensure the prescription is correct.
As you like to run your own diabetes you might like to check your scripts too, as soon as they are handed to you so that any mistakes are rectified then and there. Do not leave the room until things are done properly.
On a broader note, I am amazed at the problems those in UK seem to have at times about obtaining test strips and sometimes medication without the fear of running out.
I guess it comes down to #@**&%% economics. But you have need more tests strips due to illness etc - who dares to ration your test strips or assume that all diabetics only need X amount of insulin per week or month?
Do you have to prove you dropped a bottle or two of insulin and that it was not deliberate? Or am I mistaken in thinking that Big Brother is starting to count beans more assiduously and that patients more and more are being regarded like drug addicts, needing to justify their supply and use of medication and other things.?

I'm surprised at the posts highlighting problems with their surgery systems. I'm probably lucky having a good surgery but it really is important to use whatever the surgery system is for doing repeat prescriptions. This is likely to be EMIS or SystemOnline. Insist the Practice Manager gives you online access and complain to the CCG if they don't as the CCGs and the NHS want you to have access as it saves them money by avoiding needless surgery phone calls. These systems are fairly flexible and I'm not aware that NICE restricts items to '1'. The standard prescription setup for each 'month' can be altered by the GP and with the online systems you can ask for extras each time if needed. My monthly prescription lists 5-packs of insulin and I can order one of these at any time and I added a new pen as an extra one month. I'm on our surgery PPG and we have been asked by the CCG to spread the good word to friends and family about online access.

kev-w said:

One of the things with the repeat prescription forms is that every item list as 'next issue due' then a date a month on from that script, if I look at my repeat forms there's stuff I've not had for a while so next due last June, when they first started this I moaned to my Drs that sooner or later there'd be issues, I'd say to request a call back from a doctor at your surgery and explain it to them.

Usually slowly and if needs be repeat yourself a couple of times as it's a disgrace that a T1 is getting a vial at a time.

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I've asked about the next due dates on the prescriptions and the pharmacy said that they just ignore it. Scary spiders..

A similar problem has happened to me in Australia. The script program used by doctors has a automatic next dispensing date on it of 3 weeks as most medications are dispensed in lots of one month supply.
That makes sense for say a repeat of antibiotics or painkillers where the doctor/pharmacist wishes to ensure that the patient is less likely to have medication dispensed too early or to hoard it.
Fortunately insulin is dispensed in lots of 25 (ampoules or pens) 3 mls of 100 units insulin. It costs me AUD 46 each time (cost to Govt quoted as $469) with 1 repeat and lasts me about 90 days each script.
I agree that insulin could be wasted if dispensed too liberally but there needs to be reasonable latitude for a patient to have adequate supply. What if you accidentally dropped the one ampoule, or it got exposed to excess heat ? As you would probably need to carry it sometimes and so is not under refrigeration the insulin will only last 28 days.
A complaint to the local Health Authority or your local MP may help to ensure you receive adequate supply. Best Wishes.