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It suddenly dawned on me...

zoze_j

Well-Known Member
So I ran out of test strips on Saturday - I stupidly ordered my repeat prescription too late & so got to weekend & was like, "oh".

Anyway, rather than waste an emergency doctor's appointment, which someone would genuinely have needed, I decided to pootle off to Asda pharmacy & just buy a box of strips. I was not, however, prepared for how much they would cost - £30 for 50 strips!
I swear I literally stopped breathing momentarily! I couldn't believe it.

After I paid for them & left, it suddenly hit me how fortunate we are to have a health care system/government who don't make us pay for our prescriptions where a serious medical condition is involved - in other countries they pay a fortune in medical insurance to cover the cost of the items we take for granted.
At £30 for a box of test strips, I dread to think how much my insulin, or pump supplies would cost me. Especially when you consider, as a diabetic, how quickly you go through your supplies!

So it was definitely one of those moments where, despite so many memebers of the public (most of whom do not have a serious health condition) ***** & moan about the NHS, I realised just how much of a gift it really is!
 
I've bought a cheapy meter in the past to get ten free steps with it. I now have an SD Codefree meter and have the cheap box of 50s as spare.
 
Hi Zoze, it might be worth you asking the pharmacy where you normally get your supplies if you could have a box of test strips and deduct it from your prescription when it's ready to collect.

The NHS are charged about £13 for the test strips not the £30 you were charged. Which admittedly is still a lot of money.
 
As a type 2 I pay for my own meter and strips (SD Codefree) and sporadically treat myself to Libre Freestyle sensor (£50 for two weeks). No exemption certificate. Currently running at around £60/month. Then I am on 2 prescription drugs for which I pay. I have been on a hormone treatment for 15 years - and paid for monthly prescriptions for all of that time. I will have the condition for life.

Not saying that to beat some pointless T1vT2 'unfairness' drum (I hate that!) - and I totally agree that we are incredibly lucky to have the NHS - but there are a lot of other, serious, continuous medical conditions where treatment is required for life that aren't covered by the rule that gives diabetics on medication free prescriptions.

So yes, we are incredibly lucky. But the system is unfair, and will (I suspect) always be so.
 

I would say definitely unfair.
 
CarbsRok said:
Hi Zoze, it might be worth you asking the pharmacy where you normally get your supplies if you could have a box of test strips and deduct it from your prescription when it's ready to collect.
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Good advice, when I changed over to my pump my Dr prescribed the wrong test strips, the Pharmacist loaned me 50 strips until the new prescription arrived, at the time I had to sign a form as prove.

@zoze_j, what strips were they, £30 seems too expensive
 
If your pharmacist knows you (they probably will as you are probably there pretty regularly) they will do you an emergency script & give you a box now and knock a box off what they are supposed to give you when the signed prescription does come in. Boots have done that for me a few times.

And you are right, for all it's faults we are so lucky to have the nhs.
 

I don't know if it has anything to do with the type of test strip? Theyre ones that go in my pump blood sugar meter? Not sure if they're in any way special...or if Asda are just playing silly buggars!

I have done that in the past, I walk through the door & get a warm greeting every time! But sadly they don't open on a Saturday so I was a bit stuck!
 

I hate the fact that I only get 2 boxes at a time because the GPs are totally anal about monitoring how much I'm using them. It's so frustrating when it takes 3 days to clear, then I get two boxes which, if I'm lucky, last me a fortnight. Its such a pain!
 

They're for the contour next...I think! It's the one that transmits the result to the pump? I try and avoid Asda pharmacy like the plague because they're such rip off merchants!!
 
zoze_j said:
They're for the contour next...I think! It's the one that transmits the result to the pump? I try and avoid Asda pharmacy like the plague because they're such rip off merchants!!
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You was robbed Have you got the receipt still as you can ask for the VAT back?
 
Accuchek Aviva strips are £30 for box of 50 as well. That's in Boots or Lloyds. I ran out one weekend and the Lloyds pharmacist suggested I ring the out of hours service and ask for a prescription to be faxed directly to them. It was fine and I popped back later in the day for my strips. I agree, we are very lucky to have the NHS.
 

Get in touch with your DSN. Mine told the GP that I needed more test strips as and when. So now I get 4 boxes at a time. I also train a lot so I used that as a real reason to get more. I test to drive the gym there and back. I also test 2-3 times at the gym to stay safe. Can you use that?
 
CarbsRok said:
You was robbed Have you got the receipt still as you can ask for the VAT back?
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I want to say yes, but in all likelihood, I will have binned it!

Sarahkylie88 said:
It is amazing to think all of the money that goes into keeping us all alive!! I'd say we r worth it!!!
x
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It really is. That's why I get huffy & puffy when people **** it off! My usual retort is "well go get a BUPA plan!"


Well...I sold my horse 6 months ago...but the doctors don't know that, so I'm sure I could use that! Plus, I drive to work so ovbiously test before I get behind the wheel. Then there's walking my two dogs...
 
zoze_j said:
Well...I sold my horse 6 months ago...but the doctors don't know that, so I'm sure I could use that! Plus, I drive to work so ovbiously test before I get behind the wheel. Then there's walking my two dogs...
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Yes and there's your basal testing as well (that's if they know what it is) @noblehead has a letter to give to GP's if you have problems with getting test strips.
 
Mrs Vimes said:
Yep, if they want you to keep fit you gave to stay safe. It also increases insulin sensitivity.
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Exactly, you can't flippin win!!

CarbsRok said:
Yes and there's your basal testing as well (that's if they know what it is) @noblehead has a letter to give to GP's if you have problems with getting test strips.
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Probably not, my GP, as lovely as they are, aren't very clued up on the ol' diabetes!
I'd be very interested in @noblehead 's letter!
 

I suppose it depends how you look at it.

Personally, I consider myself extremely fortunate that I don't have to deal with a healthcare system like the NHS.

Yes, I do have to pay for a small percentage of my prescriptions (For example, 800 Accu-Chek Aviva test strips costs me about 35GBP), my doctor's visits (about 12GBP), and a small % of my hospital bills (last year I paid about 800GBP). In total I spent about 3,000 GBP out of my pocket on medical costs in 2015. That may seem like a lot. HOWEVER, I pay about 20,000 GBP less in taxes here in the US than I would in the UK. Plus, I have access to (what I consider to be) the highest quality of healthcare in the world.

That's a trade-off I'd take 10 out of 10 times.
 

Fair point, but what about emergency medical care, if you need to get rushed into hospital? And what about prescriptions for other things? It's really good that because of the diabetes, all my prescriptions are free - I could go for a chest infection, and my antibiotics will be free too
 
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