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I’ve never heard something more ridiculous!!

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M

MarkGeordie

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
I put a online prescription order in on 14th December as I knew I would need things over the holiday period. My doctors and pharmacy and usually pretty good and 3 days notice is usually all we need to give but I’ve given a lot more.

Ring this morning to check the progress of the prescription and told it’s all there bar 1 of the insulin’s, they have been trying to get hold of it but with it been the end of the month nearly they are struggling as they are on a quota?!?

I’ve never understood how they work properly but surely they don’t only get so much to last a month? They can’t just deny me the insulin!

I have enough for another two nights injections, so I must have it for Thursday!
 
Hi Mark. That is shocking and they should be able to give you a prescription to get dispensed somewhere else if they can't supply you. Maybe ring round local pharmacies to find which ones have plenty of stock so you can take the prescription straight there, if your surgery dispensary can't fulfill it.

It is always a good policy to make sure you never get that low. Always reorder before you get to your last pen/cartridge. If you were to have a breakage (unlikely I know but it can happen if you accidentally sit on a pen or drop it onto a hard surface etc. with no reserve, you would be stuck.

It may be that there has been a bit of a run on insulin with Brexit fast approaching too. People have been getting a bit twitchy worrying about potential hiccups in supply and perhaps not stockpiling but definitely getting in more supplies early.
Hope you get fixed up soon. Which insulin are you struggling to get hold of. Please make your dispensary are aware that you are completely out of stock and it is a matter of considerable urgency that you get some, either from them or another pharmacy ASAP.

Let us know how you get on.
 
Do you have another chemist nearby? You could call and see if they have any and get a copy of you prescription and ask if they would dispense some for you, its not ideal but a good idea to try

There have been a few occasions over the years where the chemist have had issues obtaining insulin but it's never been a huge deal to me as I never let myself get to a last cartridge
xx
 
MarkGeordie said:
I put a online prescription order in on 14th December as I knew I would need things over the holiday period. My doctors and pharmacy and usually pretty good and 3 days notice is usually all we need to give but I’ve given a lot more.

Ring this morning to check the progress of the prescription and told it’s all there bar 1 of the insulin’s, they have been trying to get hold of it but with it been the end of the month nearly they are struggling as they are on a quota?!?

I’ve never understood how they work properly but surely they don’t only get so much to last a month? They can’t just deny me the insulin!

I have enough for another two nights injections, so I must have it for Thursday!
Click to expand...
Although it sounds ridiculous I have read of people reporting this before. As other have said your Doctors should be able to issue with a prescription to go elsewhere.
 
They say they are waiting on a delivery today. So I’ll give them another call later to see if it arrived.

I’ll also ring around some other pharmacies as a precaution.

I’m only low because I changed insulin a wee while ago and when the doctor added it to repeat prescription instead of the usual 2 boxes they only added 1 so when it was dispensed I didn’t have as much as usual and when I tried to order earlier the surgery kept rejecting the order.

So this time I insisted the doctor call me and she agreed and amended it and issued a prescription and this is the one I’m waiting for.
 
My pharmacy has been fantastic. When they have run low on insulin I needed, they phoned around others in the area to find some.
Prescriptions can be taken to any pharmacy. Your current harmacy should be able to return /forward the request elsewhere.
 
helli said:
My pharmacy has been fantastic. When they have run low on insulin I needed, they phoned around others in the area to find some.
Prescriptions can be taken to any pharmacy. Your current harmacy should be able to return /forward the request elsewhere.
Click to expand...
Many have electronic prescriptions these days that are sent to named Pharmacy. So GP would have to reissue sending to another Pharmacy or give a paper one,
 
grovesy said:
Many have electronic prescriptions these days that are sent to named Pharmacy. So GP would have to reissue sending to another Pharmacy or give a paper one,
Click to expand...
I had this problem and although it was sent electronically my usual pharmacy just gave me a printed script with just the out of stock item on it so I could go elsewhere.
 
I’m thinking they may not have paid their bill(s)
I hope you get your insulin today. If not try contacting nhs 111 if your in the uk
 
Years ago just before a holiday and I was still working, I used a branch of Lloyd's cos it was nearest to the office, they hadn't got enough of one insulin - so they sent the junior to literally hotfoot it to Boots and borrow some until tomorrow! Beats me why they can't still do that 'today'.
 
So, do you actually have it now or are you still waiting for it to be dispensed.... I'm a bit of a worrier so will be happier with it confirmed that you now have plenty of insulin in your possession, if you don't mind.
 
rebrascora said:
So, do you actually have it now or are you still waiting for it to be dispensed.... I'm a bit of a worrier so will be happier with it confirmed that you now have plenty of insulin in your possession, if you don't mind.
Click to expand...

Got it! In my possession. Plus the doctor has allowed me to have more so I won’t let it run so low again.
 
Great news... Relief! Thanks for updating.
 
That’s a relief
 
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