Insulin prescription cancelled

[JohnWhi]

The people at my GP surgery often amaze me. They have done it again. Looking through the on-line ordering form for repeat prescription items yesterday, all insulin (Novorapid vials for pump and cartridges for the pen) had disappeared. Finally managed to contact them by telephone. They told me it was because of a letter from the hospital pump clinic (yes I received a copy dated 9th August) asking for a single vial of Fiasp to be issued for me for use on trial. After finishing the trial, without coming to any firm conclusions, I returned to Novorapid. It seems I cannot now request either unless they receive advice to that effect from the hospital. I have left a telephone message and sent an e-mail to the hospital but remain astonished that somebody with Type 1 can be left without any insulin at all. Knowing that I have sometimes had to wait a month from the prescription for the insulin to arrive is not good for the anxiety and blood pressure.

 

[DaveB]

Complain to the surgery Practice Manager. Your surgery can prescribe insulin as mine does. You shouldn't have to wait for your insulin to 'arrive'. My surgery signs-off my online requests the same day and my (Lloyds) normally has the items ready to pickup after 3 days or so; more quickly if urgent.

 

[rebrascora]

That really is shocking!

This is something that my Diabetes Nurse at the surgery would sort out, although I would hope that this problem wouldn't arise at my GP surgery in the first place. Even if it took a while for the matter to be sorted via the appropriate channels (ie a letter from the clinic, which does often take longer than a month) the nurse at the surgery would be able to ring the hospital clinic and get the matter resolved short term until the prescription was changed. I appreciate that not all surgeries are as good as mine but having rang the clinic helpline and left a message, I would be contacting the nurse at the surgery to try to get a temporary prescription to tide me over. Failing that, I believe a pharmacist can issue an emergency prescription if you can show that you have been receiving it on prescription.

 

[JohnWhi]

Many thanks for the sympathy. Although I tend to take these things personally, I suspect that ignorance is the problem rather than malice. I also e-mailed the consultant who wrote the letter. Will wait a couple of days and then brave the triage to have an appointment with a doctor. (First in a good few years.) With 23 GPs in the practice, there must be one who knows something about diabetes and will understand the dangers of being without insulin. The two local pharmacies tell me that delays in obtaining insulin are mainly due to rationing by their suppliers. In the past, I have asked for a paper prescription and hunted more widely.

 

[Inka]

My surgery have done this to me twice. Once they refused to give me any insulin at all which was extremely stressful, and the second time they randomly removed the insulin vials I use in my pump. The first occasion was awful, but on the second occasion I spoke to the Practice Manager and got the insulin added back and a prescription sent straight to my chemist.

I hope you get it sorted soon - it is very stressful indeed.

 

[JohnWhi]

I finally managed to speak to the consultant's secretary and to one of the nurses at the hospital. They think the GP surgery misunderstood the request in the letter, so they are sending an electronic treatment request to put things back in place. The fact that all the hospital e-mail addresses have changed slowed me down.

 

[rebrascora]

Fingers crossed that sorts it pronto.