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On holiday in UK, sourcing humalog insulin pen

EllieM

EllieM

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OK, I seem to have lost my humalog pen and still have 10 days to last before going back to New Zealand.
I have plenty of cartridges and half a dozen syringes so I can make do if I have to but would much prefer a replacement pen and/or some extra syringes.

Do any pharmacies supply pens or syringes without a script? (Don't fancy spending 24 hours in casualty and obviously don't have a GP here). If I was in NZ I could get one from my local small town pharmacy but the local two I've rung don't seem to think this is an option.

Any advice welcomed.
 
EllieM said:
OK, I seem to have lost my humalog pen and still have 10 days to last before going back to New Zealand.
I have plenty of cartridges and half a dozen syringes so I can make do if I have to but would much prefer a replacement pen and/or some extra syringes.

Do any pharmacies supply pens or syringes without a script? (Don't fancy spending 24 hours in casualty and obviously don't have a GP here). If I was in NZ I could get one from my local small town pharmacy but the local two I've rung don't seem to think this is an option.

Any advice welcomed.
Click to expand...

Ellie, why not pop in, or telephone the local pharmacy and ask t speak with the pharmacist. AN assistant might mean well, but the pharmacist will have a better idea of how to go about things.

Alternatively, you could call NHS 111 to ask for assistance.

If needs be, you can register temporarily with a GP. There's a short form to fill out, but then they can treat you as an NHS patient (or whatever reciprocal arrangements exist with NZ) and sort you out.

Glad you have a back-stop, just in case, but 10 days is a long time to go back to the good old days!
 
What part of the uk are you visiting @Ellie M? Someone just might have a spare disposable pen. Always worth a shot (no pun intended).
Or you could try ringing the switchboard of the nearest hospital and asking to be put through to the diabetes department who might have a spare pen in their cupboard.
I used to buy syringes from my local chemist.
 
There used to be a series of private medical clinics which did walk-up or short notice appointments. I used them a couple of times in London. Can’t remember the name, and think that particular chain no longer exists anyway, but you could check whether there are any close to where you currently are. Or even try a walk-in GP service.

Just found this - seems to be major cities and a couple of smaller places: https://www.londondoctorsclinic.co.uk/clinics/waterloo/
 
Thanks for all the helpful suggestions, have managed to buy some syringes so am less anxious. The pharnacy I bought the syringes from seemed to think I'd need a script if I wasn't in the NHS system but have now realised that I probably still am (based on the fact that my husband was when he had to go to casualty for emergency kidney stone surgery when he was in UK for his mother's funeral 3 years ago).
 
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