[shiftzor]

Its bad enough being a diabetic never mind having a doctor who seems powerless to help me, all because of an apparent funding issues. I question the legality of the statement made in the attached picture, from my understanding they cannot refuse treatment to a diabetic. I was ill over the past few weeks which are why I had to reorder that pathetically small number of strips. I have taken the statement to mean:

They don't care about my health.
They don't care about complications as they will not directly fund them.
They prefer me to use accident and emergency more often.

In the words of Radiohead - Prove Yourself:

I'm better off dead
I'm better off dead
I'm better off...

Prove yourself
Prove yourself
Prove yourself

I wanna breathe, I wanna grow
I'd say I want it but I don't know how
I work, I bleed, I beg, I pray

So now I guess action is required, but how is the question. I am currently using backup supplies which i am so thankful i have saved over the period of being a diabetic, but i am quickly running out. Tomorrow im going back in there with a baseball bat .

[SueM]

Make an apt with said GP point out that if you drive it is a legal requirement to test before you do so.
Also point out if you are on MDI and carb count you can not control your diabetes without the test strips. Also point out the NICE guidelines to him.
Take in a piece of paper for him to sign stating he will be taking full responsibility for any complications/accidents due to you not being able to test.
Start nice and quietly then let of steam if you don't appear to be getting anywhere.

[shiftzor]

Originally Posted by SueM

Make an apt with said GP point out that if you drive it is a legal requirement to test before you do so.
Also point out if you are on MDI and carb count you can not control your diabetes without the test strips. Also point out the NICE guidelines to him.
Take in a piece of paper for him to sign stating he will be taking full responsibility for any complications/accidents due to you not being able to test.
Start nice and quietly then let of steam if you don't appear to be getting anywhere.

Problem is I have been through all of this, minus getting them to sign a piece of paper. So frustrating, sorry to moan it just pisses me off, I thought I had solved the problem. I will draft a letter using the words of the NHS guidelines and make them sign it.

[SueM]

Simple answer is they owe you a duty of care.
Wheres the care if you do not have the equipement to administer your medication(insulin) in it's correct dosage?

[morrisma]

Good luck ****fzor. In the states, we don't seem to have those guidelines. I have had to argue with most docs or insurance companies to get what I needed. Bean counters in charge of health (or anything really) is a bad system.

[shabbie]

you have my sympathies my friend. my blood boils over when i see a type 1 being refused the supplies to manage their condition/disease!!!

that prescription request should read "as per requirements"

can you get your DSN involved? or the hospital clinic to speak directly to your Gp?

[Penny]

Originally Posted by shabbie

that prescription request should read "as per requirements"

?

This is what got my last insulin order in so much trouble! My doctor leaves it up to me to decide how much Novolog I need each day. I base it on not only how many carbs I eat, but on how high my BS is at the time. Therefore he ordered what we thought was enough Novolog pens to do for the 3 months at a time, that I have to order. His instuctions stated "as needed". Medco refused to fill it that way. They insisted he needed to say "this amount of insulin, this many times a day". I never know how much or little I will need in a day! Both of us were absolutely frustrated, I was almost out of Novolog and running high from stress! We did finally reach a "sane" lady from Medco, who took charge. She said she would make sure I got what I needed, but I will believe it when it happens. I think one of the requirements of being in charge of this stuff should be that you have to have Diabetes! There are enough of us that it shouldn't be a problem finding people to fill the jobs.

[JediSkipdogg]

In the US most insurance companies you have to specify how much to use per day. My test strips are written out as for testing 6 times a day and my insulin is based on 80 units per day. So my Doctor writes "Apidra Insulin for 80 units per day via insulin pump" and I've never had a problem (besides with Target pharmacy.)

[notme]

I did exactly the same thing. If they want us to specify, then specify WAY high. My Rx reads that I test 8-10 times a day and I take 60 units of insulin a day. I always have extra if I need it.

[rzrbks]

shiftzor,

Sorry you're having so much trouble, but, from what other people from UK have posted, it's more to do with your Dr. than anything else.

Stoopid Drs.

You might really want to show him the pertinent parts of NICE guidelines. I've read then and they seem to be pretty clear as to what is to be done by Drs.

I have had to get rid of several Drs over here in US in order to find one that knows how to treat me and my Specific situation.

[SueM]

Originally Posted by JediSkipdogg

In the US most insurance companies you have to specify how much to use per day. My test strips are written out as for testing 6 times a day and my insulin is based on 80 units per day. So my Doctor writes "Apidra Insulin for 80 units per day via insulin pump" and I've never had a problem (besides with Target pharmacy.)

Prescriptions are not written out like that in the UK unless for antibiotics or other tablets.
Test strips/bottles of insulin are done by the box or bottle.
Shiftzors, GP is just being anal and needs to be told the facts about diabetes control yet again. It does seem as she is a slow learner though as Shiftzor has already been through this once before.

[Gary_W]

Originally Posted by SueM

Prescriptions are not written out like that in the UK unless for antibiotics or other tablets.
Test strips/bottles of insulin are done by the box or bottle.
Shiftzors, GP is just being anal and needs to be told the facts about diabetes control yet again. It does seem as she is a slow learner though as Shiftzor has already been through this once before.

I quite like it when a doctor is slow; it makes 'em easier to hit when you throw the book at them.

I would really like to see her attain a decent HBA1c and a decent quality of life with MDI and an irregular day without blood testing 'as needed'. Yes, people survived without such tests years ago, but that doesn't make it right. They also survived without plumbing, cars and toilets. Perhaps suggest to your GP that, in the absence of adequate test strips, could you come in twice a day for blood letting, a course of leeches and a small poltice?

Go throw the NICE guidelines at her. Next stage is to phone up the chair of the PCT and complain to them; your GP cannot ration these strips, and, as the risk and any litigation involved will pass to the PCT, they will be interested to hear of her somewhat Spartan rationing of healthcare which is in direct violation of their duty of care.

Gary

[pegasus]

Originally Posted by Gary_W

I quite like it when a doctor is slow; it makes 'em easier to hit when you throw the book at them.

I would really like to see her attain a decent HBA1c and a decent quality of life with MDI and an irregular day without blood testing 'as needed'. Yes, people survived without such tests years ago, but that doesn't make it right. They also survived without plumbing, cars and toilets. Perhaps suggest to your GP that, in the absence of adequate test strips, could you come in twice a day for blood letting, a course of leeches and a small poltice?

Also ask her how prepared she is to have you sitting on her doorstep when you run out of strips and want to test in her office Or does she want to start a pool on which complication you'll develop first (knock wood ... ) without "as needed" testing.

Good luck! And to profit-based health care!

[shabbie]

Originally Posted by Gary_W

I quite like it when a doctor is slow; it makes 'em easier to hit when you throw the book at them.

I would really like to see her attain a decent HBA1c and a decent quality of life with MDI and an irregular day without blood testing 'as needed'. Yes, people survived without such tests years ago, but that doesn't make it right. They also survived without plumbing, cars and toilets. Perhaps suggest to your GP that, in the absence of adequate test strips, could you come in twice a day for blood letting, a course of leeches and a small poltice?

Go throw the NICE guidelines at her. Next stage is to phone up the chair of the PCT and complain to them; your GP cannot ration these strips, and, as the risk and any litigation involved will pass to the PCT, they will be interested to hear of her somewhat Spartan rationing of healthcare which is in direct violation of their duty of care.

Gary

great reply gary!!! lmao!!!

[shiftzor]

Having thrown the rattle out of the pram and made a lot of noise I am now the proud owner of 400 test strips. Thanks for the support, hopefully there won’t be a repeat.