Insulin Passports

[MaryPlain]

Surely insulin is not the only drug where there are different varieties and strengths! I am of the view that it is the pharmacist's job to check on their computer system and against the prescription. I can't imagine my pharmacist needing an additional bit of paper. I don't see why it's any different from the prescription - most of these are printed now as well. If the passport is handwritten it seems like the weakest part of the chain!

 

[Pumper_Sue]

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

Bev,
I know it's not compulsory. That was and is my point.

I had a phone call from my GP surgery to say unless I had a passport The pharmacist say's would NOT issue me with my insulin. 😡 Someone from the Pharmacy had telephoned the surgery to tell them this.

This passport is an A4 piece of paper which you stick your prescriptions on.
You then fold this bit of paper keep it in your pocket and show it to the pharmacist.

So if you gave that bit of paper to someone else to pick up your insulin and that someone was involved in an accident, do the medics then see this bit of paper and start treating you for the non existent health problems by mistake?
Nope not thought out.

Having used insulin for 48 years the system is just fine how it is thank you very much.

 

[bev]

Bev,
I know it's not compulsory. That was and is my point.

I had a phone call from my GP surgery to say unless I had a passport The pharmacist say's would NOT issue me with my insulin. 😡 Someone from the Pharmacy had telephoned the surgery to tell them this.

This passport is an A4 piece of paper which you stick your prescriptions on.
You then fold this bit of paper keep it in your pocket and show it to the pharmacist.

So if you gave that bit of paper to someone else to pick up your insulin and that someone was involved in an accident, do the medics then see this bit of paper and start treating you for the non existent health problems by mistake?
Nope not thought out.

Having used insulin for 48 years the system is just fine how it is thank you very much.

Hi Pumper_Sue,

So all you need to do is explain to the Pharmacy/GP that the scheme is compulsory and you should hear no more.🙂

Sue - clearly a paramedic would not administer medication to someone because they happen to be carrying a piece of paper detailing a medical condition!😱I know we hear stories of bad practice but even a useless paramedic wouldnt do that - at the very very least they would do a BG test! And presumably the person would be carrying thier own identification so not sure there is even an issue here.

If you were in a hospital situation I feel certain that most people would prefer to have details about their medication written down so that there are no 'medication errors' - but I realise that is optional and is your choice - I just dont understand why you would not want the information to be out there for the people who are caring for you. It is a safeguard that is all.

Just because something has always worked one way doesnt necessarily mean it doesnt need to change - there have clearly been many mistakes made over the years - just not to you (happily) so one shouldnt dismiss that as a potential risk. Sometimes change can be a positive.🙂Bev

 

[HelenM]

Not so long ago on a forum. I remember someone writing about being given the wrong insulin by the chemist I think it was a mix up with one of the humulins /humalogs. They didn't notice and couldn't understand why they were having hypos.

The reason for trying to improve insulin safety is

A review of the National Reporting and Learning System (NRLS) for the period 1 November 2003 to 1 November 2009 identified 16,600 incidents including six deaths and 12 resulting in severe harm. Of these 26 per cent were due to the wrong dose, strength or frequency and 20 per cent were due to omitted medicine. Patients being prescribed or dispensed the wrong insulin product accounted for 14 per cent of incidents. Reported incidents involved patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes who were using insulin

.
It's not just issuing passports 'Insulin safety training is now a requirement for all those who prescribe, prepare, handle or administer insulin'
http://www.diabetes.nhs.uk/safety/

 

[Pumper_Sue]

If you were in a hospital situation I feel certain that most people would prefer to have details about their medication written down so that there are no 'medication errors' - but I realise that is optional and is your choice - I just dont understand why you would not want the information to be out there for the people who are caring for you. It is a safeguard that is all.

When I was in hospital a few years back for a pre planned op all the details of my meds were discussed and a care plan drawn up. Which was totally ignored.

Bev you seem to mixing up the hospital passport and the insulin passport they are two different things.

My original post was bemoaning the fact that the pharmacist was telling my GP practice that unless I took part in the sceme they would not issue my insulin. Which is illegal.

 

[DeusXM]

Is there an opportunity to use a difference chemists' perhaps?

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Is there an opportunity to use a difference chemists' perhaps?

Yes there is and I will give them that option. 🙂

 

[Flutterby]

I was given an insulin passport about 6months or more ago. I stuck it in the usual pile of stuff marked "can't be bothered right now" and haven't seen it since😱 You wait, I bet I get asked for it next time.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Only just realised that I had my annual review this morning and once again this was not mentioned at all!

 

[ukjohn]

I collect 8x5 packets of insulin from my Chemist every month. I've not heard anything about this passport either.

John.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

I collect 8x5 packets of insulin from my Chemist every month. I've not heard anything about this passport either.

John.

I collect 4 vials every 6 months. Must admit to knowing about the passports, but not heard of anyone using them or being threatened for non compliance to a voluntary sceme.

 

[Austin Mini]

Every year (usually in February) my chemist asks to review my prescription with her (the pharmacist). I usually start by telling her 'this is a complete waste of time' as I have no input as to my prescription in that if I complain to my Doctor then I could be seen as a troublemaker and may be asked to leave the practice. So we go through my prescription list and I walk away for another year BUT the pharmacist is happy to tick my box on her list of patients and await for next year. I will not (if given the choice) be wanting a passport as its something else to loose and all the chemist staff know me by my first name, Mr Austin S Cooper.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Ah but the pharmacist it's not a waste of time as they get paid ?100 per patient to do that check.😡

 

[martindt1606]

I saw the GP surgery nurse for an annual review yesterday and she asked if I had received a passport. When I said no she spent 5 minutes going through hundreds of plastic cards before saying she didn't have a card for the novorapid vials I now need for the pump - so she gave me one of the old cardboard cards and asked me to write in the insulin.

I wouldn't expect the Chemist to ask for one of these passports as I am always welcomed with Good Morning / Afternoon Mr T....... when I walk through the door.

 

[Garthion]

My chemist is right next door to my work, and I'm known to all of the staff there so when I go to get my prescription (they do the running to the Doc's for me) they just hand it over with a "Morning Dale," or "Afternoon Dale" Don't even need my surname.

When I stated on the Pump they had a bit of difficulty getting the Novorapid vials at first, but now they keep a minimum of 6 in stock in case I need extras during the month (haven't yet but who knows what may happen)

The passport thing is a good idea if you regularly visit different chemists but if you go to one specific chemist why should it be needed?

It could also be useful if you needed to visit a doctor's whilst in another part of the country and required a vial/penfil of insulin, so I can see some uses, but not if you don't go anywhere or use just one chemist.