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My GP Practice - a rant
- Thread starter dissolvedgirl
- Start Date
etmsreec
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 112
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
It seems to me, having jumped between about 6 or 7 GP surgeries over the past ten years, that it all depends on who you speak to, when and how familiar they are with you, with diabetes, and probably other factors too.
I had a GP in Stockport who wanted to insist that by diabetes care was done with them, only to have them agree that I should really go to the hospital when they got confused (HbA1c of about 3 or 4 with BM test in the 13s and 14s.) Needless to say, I moved surgeries.
The GP in Stockport that I moved to took an active interest in diabetes but was totally switched on to my requests and actively argued with hospital consultants to keep me with the teams that would understand my conditions most.
There was also the case on here of a GP nurse giving a patient completely the wrong advice on basal bolus, giving advice for a Type 2 to a Type 1. Shocking.
I'd suggest calling your local hospital, speaking to the diabetes specialist nurses, explaining your issues and getting their advice. The DSNs that I have treating my diabetes are overworked, underpaid and probably under-appreciated, but they do a fantastic job.
The disposal of sharps bins is obviously an issue, but my local Asda's pharmacy will sell them to you. The 1-litre that I bought a few weeks ago was about £1.50. The pharmacies round here also have the job of collecting the sharps bins for disposal. Very different to the old advice of shoving your used needles in a bleach bottle and, of course, much safer!
Steve
I had a GP in Stockport who wanted to insist that by diabetes care was done with them, only to have them agree that I should really go to the hospital when they got confused (HbA1c of about 3 or 4 with BM test in the 13s and 14s.) Needless to say, I moved surgeries.
The GP in Stockport that I moved to took an active interest in diabetes but was totally switched on to my requests and actively argued with hospital consultants to keep me with the teams that would understand my conditions most.
There was also the case on here of a GP nurse giving a patient completely the wrong advice on basal bolus, giving advice for a Type 2 to a Type 1. Shocking.
I'd suggest calling your local hospital, speaking to the diabetes specialist nurses, explaining your issues and getting their advice. The DSNs that I have treating my diabetes are overworked, underpaid and probably under-appreciated, but they do a fantastic job.
The disposal of sharps bins is obviously an issue, but my local Asda's pharmacy will sell them to you. The 1-litre that I bought a few weeks ago was about £1.50. The pharmacies round here also have the job of collecting the sharps bins for disposal. Very different to the old advice of shoving your used needles in a bleach bottle and, of course, much safer!
Steve
etmsreec
Well-Known Member
- Messages
- 112
- Type of diabetes
- Type 1
- Treatment type
- Insulin
dissolvedgirl said:
I should also have added that, as far as I'm aware:
- you should be getting a flu-jab from your surgery. You're type 1 and therefore have a compromised immune system. If the GP surgery argues then they're obviously not getting the right messages from the PCT;
- you should be getting regular (12-monthly) eye tests and checks for retinopathy;
- you should be getting annual reviews of your diabetes including blood tests and foot checks;
- you should be getting at least one microalbumin (fasting urine sample) test a year to check kidney function.
Appalled at the content of the "rant" and responses to it. My GP practice in Churchill, Somerset is brilliant. I own an Advantage test kit, I am Type 2, and they supply test strips and finger prickers ad lib and check my HbA1C every six months. Sounds like some of these GP's need re-training particularly their personalities.
Hi! New here myself!
I don't blame you for being miffed! I would say there is something definitely lacking with the medical care on offer in your area, especially if you are not getting the help you want from either your own GP, or your hospital and Diabetes Nurse.
Without sounding too political, it's a problem that we are all going to face to a certain degree once the new government measures are brought in to reform parts of the NHS. I've found myself that here in Bedfordshire, our own GP surgery has been nigh on useless when it has come to changing prescriptions. There is a breakdown between the service between our hospital, where my little boy's Paediatric Diabetes Nurse is based, and out own GP. He was diagnosed just before Easter this year (about 2 weeks after his 9th birthday
) and I had several arguments myself with the GP about test strips. She wanted to know why we were testing so much, that one box of 100 was only lasting us about 8-10 days! Since he was newly diagnosed, and we were still getting a handle on what to do, not to mention the shock - I was more than a little cross with her, when she suggested we used less, because they cost £35 a box!!! Needless to say, I contacted our PDN, and she got onto them straight away, and that issue was resolved. There's more, but I'll leave that for another day!
Bottom line, I'd try an official complaint. What have you got to lose? If they don't get feedback on services, good or bad, then nothing can change, but if enough people make noise, it cannot be ignored.
tRaCeY
I don't blame you for being miffed! I would say there is something definitely lacking with the medical care on offer in your area, especially if you are not getting the help you want from either your own GP, or your hospital and Diabetes Nurse.
Without sounding too political, it's a problem that we are all going to face to a certain degree once the new government measures are brought in to reform parts of the NHS. I've found myself that here in Bedfordshire, our own GP surgery has been nigh on useless when it has come to changing prescriptions. There is a breakdown between the service between our hospital, where my little boy's Paediatric Diabetes Nurse is based, and out own GP. He was diagnosed just before Easter this year (about 2 weeks after his 9th birthday
) and I had several arguments myself with the GP about test strips. She wanted to know why we were testing so much, that one box of 100 was only lasting us about 8-10 days! Since he was newly diagnosed, and we were still getting a handle on what to do, not to mention the shock - I was more than a little cross with her, when she suggested we used less, because they cost £35 a box!!! Needless to say, I contacted our PDN, and she got onto them straight away, and that issue was resolved. There's more, but I'll leave that for another day!Bottom line, I'd try an official complaint. What have you got to lose? If they don't get feedback on services, good or bad, then nothing can change, but if enough people make noise, it cannot be ignored.
tRaCeY
