Mad

[Raymond]

My GP misdiagnosed me as a T2 and placed me on metformin and gliclazide It was only after hospital admittance that I was advised I was T1 and insulin dependant and had to be placed on a sliding scale drip. My DSN has told me to test 8 times a day just now until I can adjust my doses myself and yet the GP refuses to give me more than 1 tube of test strips at a time and is completely dismissive of the T1 diagnosis. I recently received a copy of the discharge letter sent to him and it states that I was admitted to hospital "under suspicion of non-compliance". i.e. they were told I couldn't have been taking my meds. I am so angry at this cretin. I phoned him to complain about only receiving 1 tube of strips at a time (6 days worth) and he had the cheek to tell me to stop testing 8 times a day against my DSN's advice! His English went from perfect to garbled at best in a very short space of time. My Dr's name is Dr S. I asked him for the name of the Practice Manager in order that I could complain to him / her. Wait for it.........Her name is Mrs S and is his wife! 😡😡😡

Has anyone else had problems obtaining test strips from their GP? I am going on holiday on Thursday and need a fortnights supply and I feel like I'm battering my head against a wall.

 

[Steff]

Hi Ray,
Sorry to hear about things,i dont think i can remember any type 1s on here having limits to there strips only type 2s, i know its crucial for a type 1 to have strips and being told to limit your testing is outrageous.Just because also his wife is the practice manager this should not stop you having a fair trail so to speak and if that was to be the case they lady would not be doing her job properly..
Is the GP really comfortable with his conscience having a diabetic who is away on holiday and unable to test because of restrictions becoming ill through it, I think not if he is worth his salt

Good luck

 

[Paul]

Hi Ray I am type two and find it hard to get strips from my GP I often buy them off E-Bay and most of them are ex perscriptions as can been seen from the labels that have been removed it makes me mad but I like to keep an eye on my levels and adjust my diet.

 

[Natalie123]

Hi Ray, That sounds ridiculous! You shouldn't be struggling so much to get strips, and to have no one to complain to seems a bit unfair, I wonder if there is anyone else you can take this too? I've heard of PALS - not sure if they would deal with that sort of problem or not. You could try the diabetes uk careline and see if they have any suggestions on how to deal with it. To me it sounds like you need to change your GP if your current one doesn't take you seriously. Good luck x

 

[Northerner]

Raymond, you definitely need to change your GP. This person is clearly ignorant of your situation and as you suggest there is nepotism involved so you may be unlikely to get anywhere by writing to his wife. I would suggest contacting PALS: http://www.pals.nhs.uk/cmsContentView.aspx?Itemid=944 because this behaviour is totally unacceptable. If your DSN recommends 8 tests per day - which is a totally reasonable amount and not in the least excessive - then SHE is the expert and her advice needs to be followed. I receive 300 strips per prescription, with no time limit on how long between prescriptions. To limit you to less than a week's worth is stupid.

 

[Ellie Jones]

Hi Raymond

You need to get back in contact with your hospital team, explain that your doctor is refusing to supply you with enough test strips (work out how many you need plus a couple extra) and they will right to your doctor on your behalf to tell him that he has to provide XXX a mount of strips for you...

Your GP can't go against your consultant, and most consultants do seem to enjoy writing a letter to put the GP in their place..

As to complaining because the practice manager is related to one of the doctors, this shouldn't make any difference if they are professional about their jobs.. I would still complain but if you feel that a decision has been effected by their relationship them go to the PCT with your complaint...


As to your diagnoses, well I had the consultant who swore blind I was a 'non complaint' T2 diabetic, even though indicators such as I was diagonsed diabetic and pregnant at the same time (both a flippen shock) and it was my GP who rang his mate another Endo at the hospital and got him to see me at his next clinic that week, as I'd become so ill...

 

[Mark T]

Wow!

I would definitely be thinking about changing GP's because even if you DSN/Consultant does force them to reconsider their opinion, your relationship with your Doctor has essentially been undermined.

The fact that Mrs S. is the practise manager would make me think that Dr. S. is possibly the owner of the practise too.

I think you can leave feedback on the NHS Choices page for your practise too.