Hi everyone! I have just joined despite having Type 1 for the past 37 years! I wanted to encourage anyone who has had their repeat Libre sensor prescription rejected by their GP if it doesn’t fall within the 28 day prescribing window,to email their local Integrated Care Board and highlight this issue! The ICB is responsible for setting these guidelines,however the sensors aren’t infallible and sometimes don’t stick well or fall off through no fault of the user. This has only happened to me once in 5 years but the GP initially refused to repeat the prescription,which meant 12 days of finger pricking. Thankfully,it’s now been prescribed but I’m sure there are plenty of you out there who have experienced the same. I understand the need for guidelines but there needs to be flexibility and maybe if more of us highlight the issue,things will change! Thanks!
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Libre sensor prescribing regulations
- Thread starter Liverbird
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@Liverbird Do you report sensor failures to Abbott?
When I was prescribed the Libre, it was made very clear to me that I needed to do so - there is no reason for the NHS (or anyone) to pay for faulty sensors.
Abbott are very good at replacing sensors and, as they rarely fail on the first day, it is common to build up an excess to overcome any 28 day repeat restrictions.
That said, I agree that GPs should be more aware of the medications and equipment they prescribe including these kind of limitations.
When I was prescribed the Libre, it was made very clear to me that I needed to do so - there is no reason for the NHS (or anyone) to pay for faulty sensors.
Abbott are very good at replacing sensors and, as they rarely fail on the first day, it is common to build up an excess to overcome any 28 day repeat restrictions.
That said, I agree that GPs should be more aware of the medications and equipment they prescribe including these kind of limitations.
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Sorry to hear you’ve had a gap in your sensor provision because of a failed sensor. Your post reminds me that I’ve a couple of Medtronic sensors I need to get replaced which didn’t perform as expected. Sensor manufacturers are generally pretty good at replacing any sensors which fail through manufacturing issue, plus reporting any failed sensors helps their QA with batch/lot numbers identifying any with unusually high failure rates (eg adhesive issues).
Glad you’ve found a way to get your GP to be more understanding via the ICB.
Different practices seem to have different ways of dealing with repeat-prescription timings. My surgey seems pretty relaxed about the timing of my re-orders, and I have so far been able to put in prescription requests whenever I need them.
Glad you’ve found a way to get your GP to be more understanding via the ICB.
Different practices seem to have different ways of dealing with repeat-prescription timings. My surgey seems pretty relaxed about the timing of my re-orders, and I have so far been able to put in prescription requests whenever I need them.
Hi Helli. Yes I did report it to Abbot thanks but I just wanted to highlight what can happen because of the prescribing rules set by the ICB.
You’re lucky that your surgery is so understanding!
Once you have one replacement sensor, and admittedly there's a gap while they consider what to do and send the new one out, you should then in all probability always have a spare to hand if you continue ordering as per the GP's 28 day interval.
Annoying for the first one, but hopefully fine thereafter unless you get a run of sensor failures early in its life and therefore no spares to hand (though again once those are dealt with you'll have 2 spare)
P.S. I've needed a faster turn-around and have simply spoken to the surgery and told them what has happened and that there's a delay in obtaining replacements. What was interesting to hear is that they get people who come back for more sensors and apparently aren't getting replacements. I got the impression there was a concern that what was happening was that the extra sensors were being sold on rather than actually being needed due to failures.
Annoying for the first one, but hopefully fine thereafter unless you get a run of sensor failures early in its life and therefore no spares to hand (though again once those are dealt with you'll have 2 spare)
P.S. I've needed a faster turn-around and have simply spoken to the surgery and told them what has happened and that there's a delay in obtaining replacements. What was interesting to hear is that they get people who come back for more sensors and apparently aren't getting replacements. I got the impression there was a concern that what was happening was that the extra sensors were being sold on rather than actually being needed due to failures.
rebrascora
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I don't see this as a problem.
If I haven't had a replacement sensor to use when one has failed I have just finger pricked until the replacement has arrived and once I have the replacement, as mentioned by @SimonP above, I then have a buffer for my supply should I have another failure.
I don't feel it necessary to inconvenience myself and others by chasing it up with my GP practice when it is just a one off situation and when I still have a means of testing. In fact I consider going back to finger pricks every now and then as "keeping my hand in" rather than becoming totally reliant on the technology.
If I haven't had a replacement sensor to use when one has failed I have just finger pricked until the replacement has arrived and once I have the replacement, as mentioned by @SimonP above, I then have a buffer for my supply should I have another failure.
I don't feel it necessary to inconvenience myself and others by chasing it up with my GP practice when it is just a one off situation and when I still have a means of testing. In fact I consider going back to finger pricks every now and then as "keeping my hand in" rather than becoming totally reliant on the technology.
Lucyr
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You should not be requesting any more than 2 libre 2+ sensors every 30 days from your GP. Certainly should not be requesting extra from your GP if they fall off. Any faults or fallen off sensors must be reported to Abbot for replacement.
I have had time to think about this since my first post in this thread and I think this is a symptom of something bigger with regards to limiting prescription requests.
Like @everydayupsanddowns I am very lucky that my GP has never restricted my prescriptions and I do not take advantage of it. However, I always make sure I have reserves in case I am not able to get my next order. This may be down to being unavailable myself (holidays, sickness, business travel, etc.) as well as supply issues. This is true for everything from insulin to CGM.
Some GPs and/or ICBs with the restrictions @Liverbird mentioned do not take this into account and should be informed of issues.
Yes, we can (and should be able to) cope with finger pricking for a few days but I have read about similar limitations with insulin and we cannot cope (nor survive) without insulin for a few days. So, when there are limitations of what we can order per month, some flexibility is needed to account for situations when we may need more or may not have access to a pharmacy or when there are supply issues.
Like @everydayupsanddowns I am very lucky that my GP has never restricted my prescriptions and I do not take advantage of it. However, I always make sure I have reserves in case I am not able to get my next order. This may be down to being unavailable myself (holidays, sickness, business travel, etc.) as well as supply issues. This is true for everything from insulin to CGM.
Some GPs and/or ICBs with the restrictions @Liverbird mentioned do not take this into account and should be informed of issues.
Yes, we can (and should be able to) cope with finger pricking for a few days but I have read about similar limitations with insulin and we cannot cope (nor survive) without insulin for a few days. So, when there are limitations of what we can order per month, some flexibility is needed to account for situations when we may need more or may not have access to a pharmacy or when there are supply issues.
Yes I’m aware that they can be sold online