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Withdrawal of BD Micro-Fine pen needles

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coco4

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Hi everyone hope you are all as well as can be :lol: I wonder if anyone else has been told that BD Micro-Fine 4mm pen needles are being withdrawn or if it is just a decision that has been made by my doctors' practice alone. On Friday I went to collect two repeat prescription items one of which being the aforementioned needles. The Pharmacist (I collect at my doctors' practice) gave me one item and when I said that I had also requested pen needles she said that only one item had been ordered I assured her that I knew I had ordered two items. After about 10 minutes she decided to check the online system and informed me that the needles had been withdrawn, I thought she meant withdrawn from my prescription personally. I was rather alarmed because I thought how am I going to inject without needles. What she actually meant was that this brand of needles are not going to be prescribed anymore because of cost and are being replaced by cheaper ones. Surprise. However because the person who data entered my request did not over ride the system the new needles weren't ordered. I was told that I would have to wait until next week to allow the system to be over ridden. I said this was unacceptable. Cutting a long story short I stood my ground and the pharmacist found some of my usual needles in a cupboard which she allowed me to have. My concern now is is this going to happen next time? I queried this point because obviously my repeat prescription still states the discontinued brand. I have been told it will be okay. Thanks for any thoughts or knowledge regarding this :D
 
coco4 said:
Hi everyone hope you are all as well as can be :lol: I wonder if anyone else has been told that BD Micro-Fine 4mm pen needles are being withdrawn or if it is just a decision that has been made by my doctors' practice alone. On Friday I went to collect two repeat prescription items one of which being the aforementioned needles. The Pharmacist (I collect at my doctors' practice) gave me one item and when I said that I had also requested pen needles she said that only one item had been ordered I assured her that I knew I had ordered two items. After about 10 minutes she decided to check the online system and informed me that the needles had been withdrawn, I thought she meant withdrawn from my prescription personally. I was rather alarmed because I thought how am I going to inject without needles. What she actually meant was that this brand of needles are not going to be prescribed anymore because of cost and are being replaced by cheaper ones. Surprise. However because the person who data entered my request did not over ride the system the new needles weren't ordered. I was told that I would have to wait until next week to allow the system to be over ridden. I said this was unacceptable. Cutting a long story short I stood my ground and the pharmacist found some of my usual needles in a cupboard which she allowed me to have. My concern now is is this going to happen next time? I queried this point because obviously my repeat prescription still states the discontinued brand. I have been told it will be okay. Thanks for any thoughts knowledge regarding this :D
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I use those and I haven't heard anything yet but I hope they don't discontinue them as I get on well with them :(
 
They are not being withdrawn, they have just changed the name slightly to BD Micro-Fine Ultra :)
 
I'm like you paul 1976 I get on well with them, but if what you say is right xAoifex than that will be ok. Do you know why the change of name?
 
I guess they have either decided to rebrand/revamp slightly or bring them inline with other countries (America?) They are def still available though as I got a script on friday!
 
I got told the same on Wednesday when I went to pick up my repeat prescription. 8mm BD needles had been substituted for the 4mm ones. When I questioned it with the pharmacist he showed me the prescription and it said 8mm. I refused the 8mm ones.I went back to the doctors and asked and I was told 8mm was on my repeat prescription and that the 4mm had been withdrawn on the 12 August. I said I wanted to have the 4mm ones and after much discussion out of earshot was told I would have a new prescription ready for the next day with what looks like a generic 4mm pen needle prescribed. I asked what was being prescribed so I could go back to the pharmacist and check what was in stock. When I went back he showed me a box of BD 4mm pen needles and said that would be what I'd receive.

When i got home I wondered if it was a cost cutting exercise and looked up the price difference between the two needles. The 8mm are substantially cheaper!!

This has left me puzzled. I'm due to pick up the prescription from the pharmacist tomorrow morning and I'm interested to see what I'll receive. I'll do this before tomorrow's appointment with the GP so I can question her the reason for the change.
 
Hi Busylizzie isn't that just so so typical. Will be interested what you learn tomorrow, would you keep us posted if you don't mind? Thanks and regards Carole : :)
 
From the Electronic Drugs Tariff, it seems to be a simple name change, no price change, still £12.69/100. Looks like the practice are too thick to do anything like a "like for like" replacement, just change the prescription for the cheapest replacement, not the one that spec matches!
 
I think I have found why the change has occurred. Have a look at http://www.hscbusiness.hscni.net/pdf/MP ... pdated.pdf

Under Hypodermic Equipment

Needles for Pre-filled and Reusable Pen Injectors pack of 100
Omnican Fine 4mm/31gauge £6.65 has been added

This is against BD Micro-Fine Ultra (formerly BD Micro-Fine+) 4mm/32 gauge £12.69

The new ones are a guage thicker but almost half the price. I guess that is why I am going to get the generic prescription for the needles.

I'll let you know tomorrow what I get!!
 
It's down to money they are told to prescribe the cheaper ones but you can refuse this and ask for the bd ones.
 
Buzylizzie/Coco4,
If you get a script that just says 4mm needles, and you explain that you find the 32 gauge better/less painful than the 31 gauge you may still get the BD Micro-fine Ultras (especially if your previous ones were 32 gauge on the pharmacist's records) if you ask nicely. :D :D
 
Hi

Yes i had 4mm on my repeat prescription then when i moved house in march and changed my G.P i told the doctor what i needed on my repeat including 4mm meedles and ended up with 5mm BD needles when i asked the doctor and the nurse in the surgery they told me that they don't do 4mm needles. BUT my diabetes nurse told me they do and can't think why the surgery are saying they don't do them.
Confusing to say the least.

tracey167
 
I got a box of BD 4mm pen needles just the other day. There was no mention from my pharmacist that they were going to be withdrawn. I've just looked at my box and its still BD Micro-Fine.
 
Also, I re-use my needles once during the day when I swap pens and saves the NHS 12p per day! Despite the recent post on needle re-use, I suspect the damage to a needle tip with a 4mm needle may be less then an 8mm needle (the latter goes thru twice as much flesh?) although the 4mm is thinner and less robust. Many will disagree with re-use but it's one way of trying to keep costs down with a great needle....
 
Hi I picked up BD Micro-Fine Pen Needles 4mm 32g this morning. I think 'Hypodermic Insulin needles 4mm/32 guage' is going to appear on my repeat prescription list. Didn't have time to question GP this morning as she was already running over an hour late.

I also wanted to ask if Accucheck Mobile cassettes and lancets could be added to my repeats as well as my Contour USB test strips and lancets. I have just received a free Mobile test meter and wanted to leave my original meter in the house and use this new one when out and about. It will have to wait to my next appointment also.

I will wait until next month and see what I get regards needles.
 
Busylizzie said:
Hi I picked up BD Micro-Fine Pen Needles 4mm 32g this morning. I think 'Hypodermic Insulin needles 4mm/32 guage' is going to appear on my repeat prescription list.
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YAYY :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:
 
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