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Is anyone else having difficulty ordering test strips?

chubbz1991

chubbz1991

Member
Messages
9
Location
United Kingdom
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
Chickens, football, loud noises
I've just gotten a repeat prescription for my blood testing strips and instead of my usual 5 boxes I've been given 2. I'm a T1 & have been having major hypos recently with several admissions to hospital so I'm having to test my blood 3 times my normal amount. I've tried explaining to the receptionist at my Drs that the 2 boxes are only going to last 10 days if that but she is having none of it. Is anyone else having these problems? I've been having hypos that can last for 48 hours, testing my blood is obviously essential and I don't know how to go about trying to get this Dr to understand.


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I'd ring up and book an appointment with your doc if all else fails.
Your receptionist can't ask what the appointment is for and he can't fob you off if you're sat in front if him.
It's terrible what they're trying to do!

Indiana x


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chubbz1991 said:
I've asked to speak to the Dr but can't actually get past the receptionist. My Diabetic consultant isn't any help either, just keep getting an answer phone.

I will try with that letter though. Thank you


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You need to make an urgent appointment to see yr GP over this and if necessary just lie to the receptionist if they ask what the appointment is for (you can say private fetmale problems that you dont wish to discuss). Your GP should be reminded that he/she is not adhering to their duty of care regarding keeping you well with the insulin regime you are using and that you might consider legal action against the GP practise if you develop complications or have such a severe hypo that requires admittance to hospital through lack of bg testing. Your diabetes consultant will not be very happy or the DSN so that is another avenue to take

It might well be down to the practise manager and not the GP though but none the less it needs urgent addressing.
 
iHs said:
It might well be down to the practise manager and not the GP though but none the less it needs urgent addressing.
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Hopefully practice managers are't interfering in the prescription of test strips as they are not medically qualified to do so. :eek:
 
Kick up a fuss - it seems to be the only way these days unfortunately. It's absolutely not acceptable the amount of strips you have been given and the stress of all this is not going to help you either. Even if you get them I would make an appointment with the GP and explain what's been happening and ask him to ensure it doesn't happen again. All the best.
 
chubbz1991 said:
I've just gotten a repeat prescription for my blood testing strips and instead of my usual 5 boxes I've been given 2. I'm a T1 & have been having major hypos recently with several admissions to hospital so I'm having to test my blood 3 times my normal amount. I've tried explaining to the receptionist at my Drs that the 2 boxes are only going to last 10 days if that but she is having none of it. Is anyone else having these problems? I've been having hypos that can last for 48 hours, testing my blood is obviously essential and I don't know how to go about trying to get this Dr to understand.


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Click to expand...
Why not put in an immediate repeat prescription request advising that last script was short ? See what the GP response is.




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Why are doctors receptionist like this? How dare they question you over what your appointment is about and say you can't have your test strips! They are a disgrace!
 
This is disgraceful and the same happened to me last week. I have only been diagnosed Type 1 about a month, and am trying to build up a profile of my blood glucose. The receptionist called me at work last week to say i was testing way too much (7 times a day, first thing and before and 2hrs post meals). When i argued the point she put me through to the DN who read my letter from the DNS which said test at LEAST twice daily and that meant i should test ONLY twice daily. My DNS is on holiday now for three weeks. So I understand your frustration. Perhaps i should see my doctor and take a copy of the letter mentioned above. I look forward to hearing how you get on.
 
I have not had problems with my doctor prescribing, its more the pharmacy getting my test strips, I use a accu ceck mobile the one that used 50 strip cassettes. The last two time I have been to the pharmacy they have not been able to get them from the supplier as they had met there quota for that month. Fist time i had enough left to last the couple of days it would take second time I requested that the call around other pharmacies to get me them as this is what i was advised to do by my DNS and I collected them later in the day. They did ten question me on if I was going to be using this meeter for a while, well yes its the only one I use, and how many time a day I tested which is a minimum of 4 a day. To which they though was alot, not there concern really. They did then say that they would pre order some so that they always had a box in stock to prevent the same thing happening but I don hold my hopes high that this has been done
 
I have been on insulin for approximately 53 years and so far have not got kidney failure, blindness, neuropathy or gangrene. But I need to do blood tests to avoid side effects. After a lot or arguments at my GP practice, I managed to get back onto hospital appointments. Earlier this year I was told to tighten up my control as it had slipped a bit. Last presciption for strips 20 April, have just tried to get more today and the automated prescription service says no more strips until 13 June - 100 strips is supposed to last 56 days! That equates to not quite 2 tests a day! What do I do about this?
 
Try and get an urgent phone appt. with your GP.

Quote the NICE guidelines at them (they loooove that!) http://cks.nice.org.uk/insulin-therapy-in-type-1-diabetes#!scenariorecommendation:4

  • For adults with type 1 diabetes (aged 18 years and older), advise routine self-monitoring of blood glucose levels at least 4 times a day (including before meals and before bed).
    • More frequent testing (up to 10 times a day or more) may be required if any of the following apply:
      • The target HbA1c level is not achieved.
      • The frequency of hypoglycaemic episodes increases.
      • There is a legal requirement to do so, such as before driving .
      • During periods of illness.
      • Before, during, and after sport.
      • When planning a pregnancy, during pregnancy, and while breastfeeding — see the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline on Diabetes in pregnancy for more information.
      • If there is a need to know blood glucose levels more than 4 times a day for other reasons, for example in people withimpaired awareness of hypoglycaemia .
      • If it is necessary because of the person’s lifestyle, for example they drive for a long period of time, undertake a high-risk activity or occupation, or travel frequently or across time zones.
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Are you seen by a Diabetes team at the hospital? If so, get them involved too. Often a stern letter from a consultant is all that's required to get a GP to toe the line.
 
You should express your concerns, in writing, to your GP. I wouldn't waste my time arguing face to face, there is no record of the conversation.
Write a very concise letter, outlining how many test strips you need, per month, to enable you to remain safe and well controlled. If you don't have a printer, get it photocopied before you send it. Wait for your response, if it is not satisfactory, send a copy to your PCT with a covering letter of complaint.
Do not put up with third rate service. They HATE you to put complaints in writing, there is clear evidence that you are expressing concern and asking for their support to keep well. GP practices are paid a lot of money to 'manage you'. Across the board decisions (and yes there are T1 diabetics who are clearly making a tidy bit of pocket money selling their strips on eBay) that negatively effect your management / safety / health are clearly not acceptable.
Just make sure you write a clear, non confrontational, polite, reasonable letter, they won't be able to say no!
 
Well - it took 2 weeks for me to get a telephone consultation with the new Diabetes Nurse at the GP Practice. She has worked in a hospital clinic for a long time (in fact it was the hospital at which I was diagnosed and has an excellent record on treating "juvenile" diabetes) and at another clinic in South Yorkshire before arriving at our practice recently. She immediately increased my prescription for testing strips - doubled it straight away. She also tried to persuade me to use a pen as it was difficult for her to prescribe disposable syringes with short needles - the only ones she can prescribe have longer needles which she says can affect my control. I have tried to use a pen several times and I just can't get on with them. I do realise that vials and syringes will eventually be phased out but while they are still available I prefer to go on using them
Does anyone know what the problem is with longer needles? I wouldn't dream of putting the whole 8 mm needle in, which seemed to be the nurse's worry.
 
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