Hi,
One of the biggest London nightclubs insisted on taking my testing kit off me and for it to be stored in the medical room. I had already paid for my tickets in advance and was told I could not come in unless I gave them both my testing kit and Dextrose. After much discussion I gave them the kit as I go out quite a lot so know my body, but inevitably I had a very different evening and did not drink as a result. I was able to go to the medical room to test, however in a 1500 capacity super club with 4 flights of stairs to walk up and then to go outside to the smoking area to access the medical room, this was far from ideal and of no use if I needed to test to mitigate against a hypo occurring or just for reassurance. Having to consult the medical staff and have a discussion about my levels every time I checked was unnecessary.
The club for years had a really good policy for diabetics, however in the last 6 months this has changed in response to violence in the club. I have had an instance of a separate nightclub taking my insulin pens off me, but never the testing kit. I am now on a pump which was not threatened to be taking off me.
The risk imposed was high and if I were much younger and did not have the experience of attending similar events, the outcome could have been disastrous. With hindsight I should not have gone in, however that would have wasted 50 pounds and ruined my girlfriends birthday. This was the first time in many years of really being reminded in a social situation that I have a disability.
In terms of the law in England, are there any protecting diabetics from this happening? Their argument was I could stab someone in the club. My counter argument that the needle is tiny and not exposed, additionally my keys posed a greater threat to other clubbers.
Really would appreciate any advice on this from a legal standpoint as I have flown and gone out all over the world and never have had my testing kit off me.
Thanks for reading.
One of the biggest London nightclubs insisted on taking my testing kit off me and for it to be stored in the medical room. I had already paid for my tickets in advance and was told I could not come in unless I gave them both my testing kit and Dextrose. After much discussion I gave them the kit as I go out quite a lot so know my body, but inevitably I had a very different evening and did not drink as a result. I was able to go to the medical room to test, however in a 1500 capacity super club with 4 flights of stairs to walk up and then to go outside to the smoking area to access the medical room, this was far from ideal and of no use if I needed to test to mitigate against a hypo occurring or just for reassurance. Having to consult the medical staff and have a discussion about my levels every time I checked was unnecessary.
The club for years had a really good policy for diabetics, however in the last 6 months this has changed in response to violence in the club. I have had an instance of a separate nightclub taking my insulin pens off me, but never the testing kit. I am now on a pump which was not threatened to be taking off me.
The risk imposed was high and if I were much younger and did not have the experience of attending similar events, the outcome could have been disastrous. With hindsight I should not have gone in, however that would have wasted 50 pounds and ruined my girlfriends birthday. This was the first time in many years of really being reminded in a social situation that I have a disability.
In terms of the law in England, are there any protecting diabetics from this happening? Their argument was I could stab someone in the club. My counter argument that the needle is tiny and not exposed, additionally my keys posed a greater threat to other clubbers.
Really would appreciate any advice on this from a legal standpoint as I have flown and gone out all over the world and never have had my testing kit off me.
Thanks for reading.
