Parenting and university doctors!

[Anne-Marie Hill]

Is there anyone on here who can tell me if the gp at uni can REFUSE my son s repeat prescription for his insulin (he is type 1 and only diagnosed at 16, now 2 weeks oiff 19)? The reason given was he is due a medicine review. Our home gp said that these reviews were not necessary for Type 1 diabetics. He only went back after Christmas break today. This is very stressful for him and for me! Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

 

[Northerner]

Is there anyone on here who can tell me if the gp at uni can REFUSE my son s repeat prescription for his insulin (he is type 1 and only diagnosed at 16, now 2 weeks oiff 19)? The reason given was he is due a medicine review. Our home gp said that these reviews were not necessary for Type 1 diabetics. He only went back after Christmas break today. This is very stressful for him and for me! Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

Hi, welcome to the forum 🙂 It would seem to be unnecessary bureaucracy I'm not sure if they can restrict a medication deemed necessary for life, but would suggest contacting the Diabetes UK Helpline service will have the best advice on the legal and practical matters involved. Details here:

https://www.diabetes.org.uk/helpline

I have had to have medication reviews since diagnosis with Type 1, but they aren't always insisted on (haven't had one for at least a couple of years now). Possibly some surgeries have different working practices.

Good luck, let us know how you get on 🙂

 

[grovesy]

Welcome.

 

[Grogg1]

Is he registered with the Uni gp. I know when my DD went to Uni they were quite insistent that they register with them but my daughter didn't for the first two years as she was under 2 hours away so could come home if she needed GP. Then due to a health issue her GP recommended she register with the Uni GP to access care quicker. It wasn't a good move and even when she had cellulitis in her foot (she knew that's what she had) she couldn't get an appointment. They would just offer a telephone consultation even though she was in a flat with poor reception and no land line!

If I had a child with a chronic condition like Diabetes I would not only ring GP to advise them that if they cannot prescribe before doing a medication review then they should do that review now! Your son should also speak to his pastoral tutor at uni as they have a duty of care to him.

Finally as your son has a chronic illness has he applied for DSA. It's non means tested and can provide extra finance or equipment necessary to enable the student to access higher education. You can apply in any year, not only first year.
https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowances-dsas/overview

The process consists of attending an assessment centre for a brief chat about how their condition affects them, so it could be needing to access taxis if some days he runs late because of managing his diabetes or IT equipment if he has any visual/audio issues. The assessor is on the students side and writes an independent report to outline what additional help may assist the student The awarding body then makes a decision.

I do believe they can also apply for PIP like any other adult - students are not excluded for applying for this (or they weren't). I was told if you are awarded PIP then the student might qualify for housing benefit but this was a few years ago.

DSA is called Disabled Students Allowance but you don't have to be "disabled" just have a chronic condition.

 

[Matt Cycle]

Agree with Northerner in that it seems like bureaucracy gone mad as I can't believe they would knowingly stop someone's insulin for the sake of a review. I agree with your home GP in that a review is unnecessary. It's not as if your son is not going to be needing insulin any time soon. It was one of the reasons I stayed with my home GP when I went to Uni and picked up my supplies when I returned home. I've never had a medicine review and on my prescriptions where it said 'review due *******' they simply forwarded the date on each year.

 

[Northerner]

I've just checked a couple of my old repeats from last year and it says 'Review Date overdue, due August 2016'. No-one has mentioned this when requesting any of the repeats I've had since then, nor did they warn me it was coming up. I do remember booking an appointment the first time I was told it was needed and the GP seemed really surprised I'd done it! 🙄 I always make sure I have plenty of supplies in, in case there's ever a problem 🙂

 

[Robin]

I've just checked a couple of my old repeats from last year and it says 'Review Date overdue, due August 2016'. No-one has mentioned this when requesting any of the repeats I've had since then, nor did they warn me it was coming up. I do remember booking an appointment the first time I was told it was needed and the GP seemed really surprised I'd done it! 🙄 I always make sure I have plenty of supplies in, in case there's ever a problem 🙂

My surgery insist on an annual review, but provided you have made an appointment, they will give you one prescription past the review date. Last time, mine took 30 seconds, most of which was taken up by my GP apologising for having to drag me in for a box ticking exercise, but she said, 'we have to see you once a year'

 

[trophywench]

I actually thought it was ILLEGAL for a doctor to refuse to prescribe insulin to anyone insulin dependant !

Did the doctor actually say this to your son - or was it eg the Receptionist ?

If it's the doctor - ask him for his GMC registration number so you can report him!

 

[Ginny03]

Was the GP at the University not capable of doing a quick review to resolve the situation? I had a slightly different problem with my Uni GP - they refused to put my insulin on a repeat prescription and said they wanted me to come in every time I needed a prescription... I gave up, transferred back to my home GP and did regular trips back to pick up the necessities!

 

[john pardo]

Hi and welcome

 

[Anne-Marie Hill]

Just to clarify, it was north actual gp, but rather tnbe re eptionist that would not let my son leave a repeat prescription!. I rang Diabetes UK this morning. Insulin has to be prescribed regardless of review status. The surgery has been informed and he was allowed to put a prescription in today. He registered during Fresher's week in October and this is not his first repeat. It is beyond me as to why he needed a review so soon. Hopefully this will not happen again or to anyone else at this uni! Thank you for your advice and support.

 

[Northerner]

Just to clarify, it was north actual gp, but rather tnbe re eptionist that would not let my son leave a repeat prescription!. I rang Diabetes UK this morning. Insulin has to be prescribed regardless of review status. The surgery has been informed and he was allowed to put a prescription in today. He registered during Fresher's week in October and this is not his first repeat. It is beyond me as to why he needed a review so soon. Hopefully this will not happen again or to anyone else at this uni! Thank you for your advice and support.

Glad to hear it has been sorted out Anne Marie! 🙂 Overzealous receptionist, I think! 🙄

Hope he experiences no more problems and has a great time at Uni 🙂

 

[Ralph-YK]

I'm not on insulin and can't speak for that. I have a list of other medication, for various reasons, some I've been taking for five years. I know nothing about a review ever being done. Except last September, when I was asked for a blood sample and to make an appointment with a Dr. This was after having changed GP.

 

[grovesy]

I have been on regular medication for years and have always had medication reveiws every 6 months. Maybe you have had them without realising. My repeat slips have said for years make appointment with Dr before next prescription.