GP is withholding medication

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Gravybaby

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Type 1
Hiya. Sorry I’m new, and apologies if this has been asked before. I’m panicking a tiny bit.

Diabetic 20 years now, London 7 years, GP two years.

Firstly I should say I moved from Scotland and never had a problem, but I think I had a great childhood GP from there. Zero problems.

The one I’m at in London (2.1/5 on google…) has stopped test strips on my repeat prescriptions now.

My diabetes is deeecently-not-perfect controlled (7/8 for that six month test thing) but I also admit I’m relatively dependent on testing too. It’s based on a couple of times I’ve gone high thinking I’m low and vice versa. So sure I go through a bunch. (Roughly three tubs a month.)

Now my GP has refused prescription. Unfortunately they close early so I can’t contact them plus im out of strips.

Im panicking a little because it’s another £20 for a pack of 50 from boots.

Additionally they also withheld insulin too before but luckily I had a few days backlog.

What would you do?

What a first post. I feel like im taking advantage of the community, but I do love you <3
 
That’s not acceptable @Gravybaby 😡 I’m sure there’s guidance about not limiting test strips. I’ll have a look in a moment. You need test strips, so if you’re completely out, you’re going to have to buy them. My GP - or rather their pharmacy assistant - did this to me once. It’s scary and upsetting.

If you have a few left, phone your GP first thing in the morning and ask to speak to the practice manager.

Do you have a Libre? Why would they remove test strips completely? I have a CGM and still have test strips on my prescription - plenty. We need them.
 
Hi @Gravybaby and welcome to the forum.

As a T1 you should definitely get test strips and insulin. I’m shocked that they removed both from your repeat prescriptions! Even if you have a CGM or Libre you should still get test strips on repeat, you need to use test strips if the Libre fails or does not match how you are feeling.

As others have said, try and speak with the practice manager to get this cleared up.
 
Have they refused px or is it a case of there needs to be a px review? Prescription reviews are fairly standard but if its the first time its affected you it can be quite startling. 3 tubs a month isn't much in my opinion
 
Tdm said:
Have they refused px or is it a case of there needs to be a px review? Prescription reviews are fairly standard but if its the first time its affected you it can be quite startling. 3 tubs a month isn't much in my opinion
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Even if a review were needed, prescriptions for insulin should not be stopped, the effects of not taking insulin are immediately life threatening.
 
Yes, but no one should be waiting until they have no insulin before requesting a new supply. My Dsn said to reorder when i had 3 pens left...ie 3 months
 
Tdm said:
Yes, but no one should be waiting until they have no insulin before requesting a new supply. My Dsn said to reorder when i had 3 pens left...ie 3 months
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That's fine, but sometimes people forget things, administrative procedures like requirements for reviews should not prevent people from being prescribed life critical medication.
 
Hi @Gravybaby how incredibly stressful for you. As others have said a letter (or email) to the practice manager seems like it’s necessary even if you get the immediate problem sorted. If you need to then give your hospital team a call and they will shoot a rocket up the surgery on your behalf but it should be easily sorted by the surgery.

Our surgery has an in house pharmacist who would be able to sort it too so that may also be an option and it’s much easier to get to talk to him than a GP.

You should absolutely have all your necessary insulin, strips, needles, etc always on your prescription with no limits as to how often you can order them. Your standard prescription can cover 2 months of usual supplies (1 month for controlled medications but diabetes meds aren’t usually within that category) so it may be that the amounts need putting up anyway. And yeah try not to leave it to the last minute to reorder.

I hope you’re sorted now.
 
Hi @Gravybaby
I hope that you have got things sorted now. It is not uncommon to have a meds review and different practices use different
 
Med reviews are probably a good idea...for example, i had a miscomunication re if i should continue on metformin. A review would ensure that you weren't taking redundant medication.
 
Tdm said:
Yes, but no one should be waiting until they have no insulin before requesting a new supply. My Dsn said to reorder when i had 3 pens left...ie 3 months
Click to expand...

Some GPs simply won’t let you re-order before the 28days/month is up - they reject your prescription as too early even if it’s only two or three days early. One of my children has a serious medical condition and it’s been impossible to get a buffer of medication for this reason. It’s infuriating.
 
Welcome to the forum @Gravybaby

Sorry to hear what a stressful time you have been having with your prescriptions :(

When I have experienced this in the past, the very quickest (and most permanent) resolution has been to book an appointment and go and see them. Often the GPs themselves don’t seem to be aware that general practice approaches like this (no more prescriptions until review happens… switch everyone to Cheap Test Strip Brand X… remove blah from repeats) can have a very negative impact on individuals. As T1’s we are a bit niche, and not like most people that a surgery will be dealing with, and you may be one of only a handful of T1s on their books, so sometimes you have to go in and explain things to them.

Then if they still won’t change their approach, I’d be looking to find a different surgery. And possibly issuing a complaint.
 
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