Type 1 NHS and Insulin Question

Hi Everybody!

Hope everyone is doing well!

I have a question on the NHS, and Insulin.

Just some background info first!

I am a British citizen, and have lived abroad pretty much all my life. In 2008 I lived in London for a year, to study and get my NI and get on the NHS system.
Moved back to Zimbabwe in 2009.
I was diagnosed Type 1 in 2012, and have been on insulin since. I am on a great, but expensive medical aid, that takes care of my all my medication, doctors, and hospital treatments. It has been very good to me!

I decided to move back to London last year, August, hoping to take advantage of the more modern treatments for my diabetes.
Whilst there I got a good job, and started to "settle down". I had arrived with a good stock of Insulin pens. My little cooler, with all my pens, needles and
glucometer were stolen, very bleak, but i had all my doctors letters, and went to the pharmacy to get more Insulin, no such luck, and was told I needed to see a doctor to get a prescription. When I found a doctor who would see me, he said no to a prescription, and said I would have to be re-diagnosed (exact words).
A bit annoyed, I left it and went days without insulin. I was admitted to hospital with DKA after my friends found me passed out in vomit.
While in hospital, a lady came to get my details, and asked about my residency, after telling her I have just moved back, and never really been a resident, I was told I would be billed for my treatment. I was a bit confused, thinking NHS was free for me, I asked why, and was told that I had only come back for the free NHS, and that I had to be a resident. Not having a permanent address yet did not help my case. After complaining I was released without a bill.
While I was there, I did speak with a lady (I think she was a nurse) who gave me a bunch of free insulin pens and a new glucometer.
She told me that in order to get free treatment on NHS, i needed to register with a doctor. Ok, fine, easy enough. Then she told me in order to get free Insulin, I needed to be a UK resident for 10 years first. What! And that's when i decided to move back to Zimbabwe!
The last straw was the day before my flight, which included a 7 day holiday in Portugal, I ran out of needles, off to the pharmacy to buy some, was then told, no, you need a prescription. A prescription for insulin pen needles. No sympathy, even when I told them that I might die!
Had to use a syringe and draw it out. Luckily Dubai airport had them.

Back in Zimbabwe, my medical aid took me in immediately, lucky!

Sorry, forgot to add that I did find a Zimbabwean NHS doctor who did help me buy a pen from the NHS pharmacy. Paid 40 quid.
And sorry for the rant!

So my questions.

1. Is it really true about the free insulin? Do I have to be a resident for 10 years first? NHS website says so, but I have heard conflicting stories.
2. Why would a pharmacy, and doctor refuse to give me insulin, when I had letters from my doctor and my past hba1c results.
3. Has anyone else had similar problems?

Thanks!!

Hi guys,

Thanks for the replies! I kind of understand now.

@catapillar , I looked that up, and did some more research following the links, guess I should have done that first.
I do see their points.

I still pay voluntary contributions, and so does my mom. But just seen that that doesn't count. Wondering why we pay them? It was recommended to me when I left.

The reason I asked the questions in the first place was because I was having an argument with my sister, who said I was entitled to it, and I shouldn't have come back.

@mrspuddleduck , I said to take advantage of MODERN treatments, as Zimbabwe is said to be 15 years behind.
I was not "visiting" the UK
I was there to live, to become a resident! My birth right, is it not?
My grandparents still live there, I mean my whole family and ancestry is British.

On the insulin side, how would a tourist with diabetes get their insulin, "I'm backpacking around England, gotta carry 15 pens with me"
I had everything the doc said I needed. And when I first went to the pharmacy, I knew I was going to have to pay for the insulin.
And 40 quid for a pen, when the exact one is 12us$ here, that's a joke! But still willing to pay for the medication that keeps me alive!

I do not see how any UK expat with diabetes is able to return.

I think my best bet is to renounce my citizenship, move to Sudan, find my way to Paris, then sneak over through the channel tunnel, and become an illegal immigrant, hey! Free housing, free NHS and a weekly allowance!
Kidding!!

But thank you for the responses, my questions were answered.

Have a great night, stay low!