disposable pen versus vials rechargeble pen

[grahams mum]

hi everybody this week end i was talking to amum [she is T1] about some levemir disposable pens i had in my fridge and i gave to her [ nearly out of date and not half unit] bought in spain last year for emergency only and she welcome my offer because her gp keep prescribingthe cartridges but he wont prescribe the pen because the pen prescription should be under the DSN budget and not the GP so she keep using diposable pen but the surgery sais are double of the price for NHS budget is this a common problem or the GP is not very good or because she is an adult and they dont really care like children i never had any problem on my presciption for graham ????

 

[Einstein]

I've never had the slightest issue with my GPs about prescribing me anything my DSNs have suggested.

I am confused as to where the perceived difference is between the cartidge based NovoPen and the FlexPen, other than changing the cartidges rather than the whole pen. With the NovoPen 4 this is now even easier than with the NovoPen 3. And the NovoPen 4 is a much lighter mechanism than the 3 and I recall the FlexPen. The FlexPens (as with all disposable pens) used to be prone to sometimes jamming, the only way out then was to throw the pen and remaining insulin away.

After more than 5 years use my NovoPen 3s had seen a lot of knocks and bangs and were only replaced by 4's to make it easier for me to inject.

When travelling carrying a couple of spare cartridges is far easier than carrying complete pens; also the disposal of disposable pens should be taken into account - not good as they can't be recycled, so the whole pen needs to be incinerated or go to landfill as we can't have sharps bins larger than 1l issued under prescription.

I've just checked price wise the two are the same price per pack of 5 units.

I'm resisting using the InnoLet pens, as they are disposable, but might not have so much choice as the dexterity in hands reduces. These are more expensive and considerably bulkier than the pens.

 

[grahams mum]

i could not see the problem but this lady obviously has problem s with her GP and DSN and she was telling me about the jamming problem this why she would like cartridge pen

 

[mikep1979]

never had a problem with my surgery giving me the pens on script.

 

[Einstein]

i could not see the problem but this lady obviously has problem s with her GP and DSN and she was telling me about the jamming problem this why she would like cartridge pen

If she liked the cartidge pen because they don't block, I'm struggling to see where the problem is, certainly some of the disposable pens a few years ago used to jam - and a jolly good racket for the manufacturers as well! When they jam, drop the whole lot in the bin and open a new one, nothing to release, no option to switch to your spare pen and send the pen back under warranty.

I don't understand why her GPs won't prescribe either option - even if they have to prescribe a couple of pens per insulin type, they last years so for ?75 its no big deal.

Hey ho!

 

[grahams mum]

her problem is the ngp can prescribe only vials because the pens are not in his budget but he cant prescribe the empty pen itself because is coming from theDSN budget but i dont know why??

 

[mikep1979]

her problem is the ngp can prescribe only vials because the pens are not in his budget but he cant prescribe the empty pen itself because is coming from theDSN budget but i dont know why??

i use lantus for my basal and it is a disposable pen and novorapid for my bolus which uses the novopen and refil cartridges. all very handy and good to use. if it a problem for her gp to prescribe the pens her dsn should have some off the rep depending on what insulin she is on. and as for the argument they cant afford to put her on the disposable pens etc i would get in touch with the practice manager and explain why she needs them. if that dont work take it to the pct.

 

[Einstein]

her problem is the ngp can prescribe only vials because the pens are not in his budget but he cant prescribe the empty pen itself because is coming from theDSN budget but i dont know why??

This is where the system is crazy.

I'd suggest your friend reminds him (if applicable) that she pays her National Insurance into one central fund, and that she doesn't care about excuses, as the basis of the NHS is that it is free at the point of delivery.

And as he is the point of delivery, his issue with budgets isn't her problem, so he should fix it.

 

[grahams mum]

thanks very diplomatic

 

[Einstein]

thanks very diplomatic

Sorry it took a little while to get there. 🙄