Refused prescription

scampydoodle said:

HI, I recently got a new BM tester, i gave the form to my doctor to change to the new lancets and strips and he has refused to give me them, the only answer i got was "we have to have a set amount of people on the one-touch machine" i think this is disgusting that my GP can refuse, i did explain that my new machine was so much better, but he didnt want to know. Please can any one help or let me know what to do about this situation, I am in the UK so why should i have to buy them, it would cost me about £50.00 a month to buy them.

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Hi there quite frankly I am really shocked by this :shock: I have just gone on to specail meter given to me by the diabetes nurse at the hospital. I am only to use this one and not to use the two that i have had. I kept one in my bag, Contour, and kept the Freestyle mini at home. I have never had any problems with new meter's, hopefully I wont with this new ACCU-CHEK. I would go back to your doctor and tell him that you want to continue with the new meter and why is he denying you something that is helping your diabetes. If still no help, you could see another doctor, write a letter of complaint to the practice manager, or make an appointment to see the Manager. The doctors indifference is maddening and it makes me wonder why some people become doctors in the 1st place. I wish you luck and please let us know how you get on.

How can you control your diabets without checking your levels

SouthernGeneral6512 said:

How can you control your diabets without checking your levels

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I dont think that is the issue here SG, the issue in this thread seems to be some doctors only supporting a particular meter and quite honestly with so many refused test strips point blank I think that if you are allowed any type then you have no complaint at all, if your doctors or pct have done a deal for cheap strips so will only offer that type I think its great. Dont forget that no meter is perfect they all work within the same tolerances OK some my have more features than others but come on you are being given the consumables free of charge when many have to buy their own.

Whats the problem with saving the cash strapped NHS money?

I have changed from an Accu-Check Nano to the Accu -Check Mobile and took the request form for cassettes and lancets to my GP. I explained that the Nano was the worst meter I had ever had due to it's poor battery life, once I had explained this they were happy with the change over.

When I went onto insulin I needed more strips and they refused to increase from 50 to 100 a month. I contacted my specialist nurse and she wrote to the GP, who then changed my allowance to 100 per month. I had explained to the nurse why I had changed my meter and she has been very supportive. At the end of the day I need a meter that is reliable and trouble free.

It is an issue with costs and I know some pct's don't allow certain drugs to be prescribed. I suffer from pressure headaches and migraines and they can easily be controlled with paracetamol. The best ones are the soluble ones and when I requested these I was told that they are not allowed to prescribe them because of the cost. Thankfully I have a very sympathetic GP who could understand the reason for my request and she was happy to prescribe them.

The drugs companies do make money on the test strips, it's why the meters are so freely available.

Hi Scampydoodle,

Isn't there a GP prescribing guide you can find to see whether the strips are on it? As a Type 1 you are entitled to as many strips as you need to manage your diabetes.

Best

Dillinger

As a T2 who has been refused any strips at all, nil, zilch, can I say that if you are able to get strips prescribed on the NHS then you should expect them to be the most cost effective ones.

I take several medications and they are always prescribed as the generic ones and that is what the pharmacy give me. Generic medicines that are different looking each time I get them.

I purchase my own strips, they cost me £4.99 for 50. They are just as accurate as my other more expensive ones. If the NHS has a deal with one manufacturer or the other surely it is to be expected that they go for the cheapest option that will give the desired results, just like generic medicines?

1 in 25 prescriptions is for diabetes and this amounts to 8.4% of the total NHS drug budget, £725,000,000. In these cash strapped times it is to be expected that the NHS will want value for money.

If you think it's tough now, you wait until the Doctors have budget control with bonuses driven by cost savings.

H

What strips can you get for £4.99 per 50 please?
CAROL

They will be the SD Codefree strips. Just google the name and you will find the UK supplier. There is a link/description on this site here .... http://www.diabetes.co.uk/blood-glucose-meters/sd-codefree-blood-glucose-meter.html
but if you buy them using eBay them still come direct from the UK supplier but the P & P costs are cut to just £2 per order which is a good saving.