Insulin Passports

[Pumper_Sue]

I have just had a phone call from my surgery regarding insulin passports.
http://www.psnc.org.uk/news.php/1398/npsa_insulin_passport_alert_deadline_is_31_august_2012

Lovely lady asked me if I had a passport so I said no and didn't want one.
It seems as if the pharmacy has said they wont issue insulin unless I have one.

Only 3 guesses as to what I suggested the pharmacist could do
I did point out that as I had a legal prescription it was their duty to dispense that prescription and as far as I knew no law says I have to have a passport.😡

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I'm pretty sure the primary purpose of these 'passports' was to avoid in-patient errors in hospitals (not that they will do that either!)

 

[paul.johnson]

Just received mine,What a load of nonsense ! More bits of paper to carry,My DN says its to avoid mix ups when collecting insulin from pharmacy.lol

 

[Caroline]

It seems we need passports for all kinds of things now, even if we don't intend to leave the UK

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Just received mine,What a load of nonsense ! More bits of paper to carry,My DN says its to avoid mix ups when collecting insulin from pharmacy.lol

My attitude would be if the pharmacist and the 2nd person who checks the prescription can't get it right then they should not be in the job. As far as I can work out it's not a legal requirement to have one and if the GP has issued the prescription and you have an exemption card for it. That's all that is needed.

 

[mum2westiesGill]

I'm pretty sure the primary purpose of these 'passports' was to avoid in-patient errors in hospitals (not that they will do that either!)

That's what my DSN told me when she gave me mine a few months back & that a lot of insulins have very similar names.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

That's what my DSN told me when she gave me mine a few months back & that a lot of insulins have very similar names.

Well if the pharmacist can not read a prescription how the pluck is s/he going to read a hand writen passport?

 

[Northerner]

The last time I got some novorapid the pharmacist asked me to confirm that she was giving me the right stuff. She also asked me if I had a passport, but it was the first I'd heard about them.

 

[Austin Mini]

Does that mean we are all going to get one?

 

[Northerner]

Does that mean we are all going to get one?

I think we are supposed to:

http://www.npsa.nhs.uk/corporate/news/passport-to-safer-use-of-insulin/

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Does that mean we are all going to get one?

Click on the link in my first post it seems we were all meant to have a passport by August.

What's even dumber is it's for adults only. So one must assume that children use different insulin's to adults. 🙄

Another brainless idea which is or has cost a lot of money.

 

[bev]

Hi Pumper_Sue,

When I first read the headline of the thread I thought it sounded odd. But now I have read the reasons for it I think it does make sense. I am sure there have been many prescriptions mixed up and slow-acting given instead of fast and visa versa - so it does seem sensible to have some sort of extra checks. Not sure about having to carry extra paperwork though as its easy to forget or lose it. I note that under 18's arent required to have one - not sure why as the same risks are involved arent they.🙂Bev

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Pumper_Sue,

When I first read the headline of the thread I thought it sounded odd. But now I have read the reasons for it I think it does make sense. I am sure there have been many prescriptions mixed up and slow-acting given instead of fast and visa versa - so it does seem sensible to have some sort of extra checks. Not sure about having to carry extra paperwork though as its easy to forget or lose it. I note that under 18's arent required to have one - not sure why as the same risks are involved arent they.🙂Bev

Hi Bev,
two people check that prescription before it's handed over. If they can't get it right then!
What exactly is the point of having a bit of folded paper with your own hand written medication on it? The pharmacist also has a computer record of it all as well.

 

[bev]

Hi Pumper_Sue,

I know what your saying but there must be some previous incidents reported to have taken things to this level - they wouldnt just decide to do this without good reason. Pharmacies can be really busy at times and if your looking at hundreds of different names of drugs then it is open to human error unfortunately and if this gives both the pharmacy and the patient peace of mind then that has to be a positive thing doesnt it.🙂Bev

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi Pumper_Sue,

I know what your saying but there must be some previous incidents reported to have taken things to this level - they wouldnt just decide to do this without good reason. Pharmacies can be really busy at times and if your looking at hundreds of different names of drugs then it is open to human error unfortunately and if this gives both the pharmacy and the patient peace of mind then that has to be a positive thing doesnt it.🙂Bev

Sorry no I don't agree, 🙂 I expect my prescription to be ready and correct for when I pick up 48 hours after the request. I check that prescription when I collect it as we all should.
As to how pointless............ why say it's for over 18's.
Oh and what happens if someone else picks up that prescription for you? Obviously they can not have your passport.

 

[Northerner]

I suspect that there are many people out there who don't question what they are given by the pharmacist and might happily use the wrong insulin if provided, so this might be an extra barrier to mistakes being made. I agree that it's unnecessary for many though.

 

[bev]

I suspect that there are many people out there who don't question what they are given by the pharmacist and might happily use the wrong insulin if provided, so this might be an extra barrier to mistakes being made. I agree that it's unnecessary for many though.

Hi Northerner,

My thoughts exactly. There are many people who have other difficulties that could mean they wont ever look at what they are being given - their trust in the pharmacist is such that they wouldnt think to look. I really dont understand the reluctance to a system that safeguards both the patient and the pharmacist/GP. Someone somewhere has identified the need for this and although it might be a nuisance carrying the card it is something that I am sure most people will get used to - they way we all remember our phones or purses.🙂Bev

 

[Austin Mini]

Hmmm what happens if you loose the passport ? No insulin then ? Hows the Mrs going to pick it up if your ill? This hasnt been thought through at all but hang about, is this another EEC brilliant idea?

 

[bev]

Hi Austin Mini,

I am not sure you have to be there in person - I think they just want a card to check that what they are giving is the right insulin and check it against what is on the card. I am fairly sure they will have thought about people being bed-ridden or incapable of collecting their own prescription it is fairly common for many people - but if there is a need for presenting the card by its user then there will be proceedures in place to accommodate it.🙂Bev

 

[bev]

http://www.iddt.org/publications/free-hospital-passport/

Hi Sue,

This might help.🙂 I posted on CWD and was given the above link. It seems that this isnt compulsory - it is down to the patient as to whether they choose to take part in it or not. Judging by the amount of 'medication errors' made in hospitals I would have thought it in your best interests to take part - 32% of patients at the end of these 'medication errors' is a lot isnt it!😱🙂Bev