Test-strip exchange

[DeusXM]

This may have been suggested before - apologies if so.

Frankly it's heartbreaking to read of other people with diabetes who are being denied access to test-strips by incompetent and stupid doctors. People are being put in impossible positions where they have to literally argue with their doctor to get even the basic minimum standard of care.

That's going to be a long and ongoing battle - and one that needs to be fought. But in the meantime, is there anything we can do to help each other out?

For instance, I have no trouble getting access to test strips - in fact, my problem is the opposite, I always have an excess as some creative confusing of my doctor means I get a six month supply every two months. Given I can always get test strips, it makes sense to me to see if I could give my 'excess' to someone who can't get enough. I'm sure I'm not the only one with an excess of strips either. Is there any scope in putting together some sort of test strip exchange? We could catalogue who's got an excess of what strips and then people who don't have access could put in a request. We then send them out by post and those who are struggling get a bit of breathing space while lobbying their doctor. If it's just the odd pot of strips here or there, it's not going to raise any suspicions with doctors and it gives someone an extra week or so of knowing what their BG is doing.

I'd be happy to send across some AccuChek Mobile Cassettes for anyone with an AccuChek Mobile meter - free of charge, of course (that's the whole point). Would anyone else be interested in joining in? If so, we could look at putting together some sort of structure so that people don't feel bad if they can't get strips from us (ie. different person gets them each month etc.).

 

[trophywench]

Well I obviously would if I could but since I am unable to confuse my GP creatively or otherwise, I only get 150 at a time myself and that took some doing .....

 

[Northerner]

Whilst I can appreciate the intent behind this, it's not something we can promote on the forum. If you get too many strips then you should be changing your prescription request with your GP and not potentially wasting the NHS money. Similarly, people should not have to rely on a potentially erratic supply - they need to convince their GPs that they need the strips and demonstrate the benefits to them of getting them prescribed.

Obviously, sometimes people do have excess strips for other reasons, like changing a meter etc. and these are occasionally offered here which is fine, but I imagine that deliberately obtaining an excess to pass on is illegal.

Personally, I have 300 strips on my script, but only order more when I need them so have never had 'too many'.

 

[DeusXM]

I understand your concerns - however, this wouldn't be about ordering an excess. I just get plenty of strips which means I don't need to file my prescription particularly often. I would otherwise use all the strips first before refiling but giving away the odd extra pot here or there wouldn't be wasting the NHS money.

I take on board your point about people becoming reliant - that's partly why I recommended alternating who gets them. The idea is just an emergency measure to help people not completely run out while they're fighting their battles with GPs. A bit like a food bank - you go there when you're at the end of your tether rather than as an alternative to actually getting the stuff yourself.

As for convincing GPs of the value of prescribing more test strips - surely a strip exchange would give someone the ability to demonstrate how having more access to strips would benefit their control? If someone on restricted strips gets an A1C of 8 and then goes in a couple of months later after getting more strips through the exchange, and then gets an A1c of 6.5...and then tells the doc they've been using more strips off prescription - well, that would provide immediate, incontrovertible proof that more testing results in better outcomes. Part of the problem is a lot of doctors genuinely don't quite understand how regular testing improves BG control - wouldn't making the case clearer to them be a good idea?

 

[lucy123]

Surely if you are getting too many strips you should ask your doctor to reduce your prescription? I think we could be on potentially difficult ground with introducing the suggestion, although I do understand the intention is good.🙂

 

[DeusXM]

As I said, I'm not getting 'too many' strips, I just have a comfortable cushion which means I can afford to let go the odd pack once in a while. It's not like I'm throwing them away. They are all getting used and I only file a script when I'm down to my last 50. But I get something like 600 in one go. I can either use that full 600, or alternatively, I can give that 100 to someone who really, really needs it and just go to the chemists' a week earlier than normal. I would much rather do that than ask my doctor to reduce my prescription, which would just inconvenience me without benefiting anyone else.

 

[Cairie]

testing strips

You are so lucky - I can't get my (new) doctor to prescribe testing strips for me at all, beginning to wish we had never moved house on retirement!

 

[Northerner]

You are so lucky - I can't get my (new) doctor to prescribe testing strips for me at all, beginning to wish we had never moved house on retirement!

Getting strips isn't normally a problem if you are on insulin as doctors agree that you need to be able to test for hypos. Unfortunately, many don't see the need to test for highs as they think they are less dangerous and can be kept in check with occasional HbA1c tests and admonishment We have had a few members here who have had strips severely restricted, even on insulin, because some HCP's - and even pharmacists and receptionists! - don't believe you need to test more than a couple of times a day Since diagnosis I have tested between 6-7 times a day on average, according to my meter, and I get 200 needles per prescription (4 injections a day). So, the needles last me 50 days and I need 6x50 strips to do the tests in the same time period.

 

[Kwaka1]

I've only just got my new surgery to prescribe test strips, after a long fight!
Good idea in principal, but unworkable in practice.
If NHS counter fraud dept got wind of this I fear they would possibly request Diabetes UK shut down the forum.......which would be awful.

 

[Lairyfairy]

I ask every time I go for strips but always get the same response ... you don't need to test. Eat properly and exercise then see what the result is at the next 3 month test. I haven't much idea what causes my bs to rise because I can't check.

 

[Vicsetter]

Just can't resist saying that giving someone else your prescription items is illegal. Nuff said.

 

[RachelT]

Sorry, nice idea but i agree with Vic, unfortunately there's a very fine line between spare test strips and spare painkillers, shall we say? I know it's a nice idea, and as one of the people who can't get strips from my GP i appreciate the thought, but i think it's a complicated legal and ethical problem coz you'd be supplying a medical device without a licence.

 

[DeusXM]

With all due respect, that's completely incorrect. You can buy test strips over the counter without a prescription. In legal terms it's technically no different from giving someone a spare pack of plasters.

giving someone else your prescription items is illegal

It's also legally suspect to deny people test strips as well, yet GPs do it all the time. Giving people test strips won't do any damage. Denial of test strips puts people in hospital and into an early grave.

 

[Vicsetter]

With all due respect, that's completely incorrect. You can buy test strips over the counter without a prescription. In legal terms it's technically no different from giving someone a spare pack of plasters.



It's also legally suspect to deny people test strips as well, yet GPs do it all the time. Giving people test strips won't do any damage. Denial of test strips puts people in hospital and into an early grave.

The NHS Counter Fraud Service has responsibility for :

preventing, where possible, the illegal obtaining of money, services or resources from the NHS by deception

(Source:http://www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/396.aspx)

By obtaining more test strips than you require and giving them away you are committing fraud and what is worse is that every tax payer in the country is paying for it. If you think you are not committing an offence then sell them on ebay for 1p+postage.

Denying people test strips is a non-medical decision made by GPs. I cannot see what harm it does as even you argue you can go and buy them without prescription, it's a financial problem not a medical one.

 

[DeusXM]

you are committing fraud and what is worse is that every tax payer in the country is paying for it.

Whereas the complications caused by poorly monitored diabetes don't cost the taxpayer?

If you think you are not committing an offence then sell them on ebay for 1p+postage.

Then that would be profiteering from something paid for by taxpayers. That would definitely be a crime, not to mention unethical.

I cannot see what harm it does as even you argue you can go and buy them without prescription, it's a financial problem not a medical one.

And the NHS is supposed to be there to ensure that personal health quality isn't dependent on income. Most people can't afford the ?25 a throw for a pot of test strips, nor should they have to, given test strips should be routinely prescribed to people with diabetes. There are good, solid medical reasons why people with diabetes should have access to test strips - it has been proven that it improves outcomes in all types of diabetes.

Furthermore, Diabetes UK itself recommends using test results as a way of demonstrating to restrictive PCTs the benefits of using test strips on an individual basis. In the advocacy pack, it says "Look at the records of your HbA1c results over a period of time (eg the last four results). If your results were outside the target range of 6.5% or below, say how you use your test strips to support your self-care to improve your control. If your HbA1c is within the target range you need to stress how you use your test results to achieve and maintain this. It is important that people with diabetes are taught how and when to use blood glucose tests and how to use the results as part of diabetes self-care."

Say you're a single parent with diabetes in a low paid job and you genuinely can't afford a spare ?100 a month to buy test strips? How on earth are you supposed to make a case to your GP that test strips benefit you? You end up with this ridiculous system where those who could afford test strips can prove the benefits and then get them free of charge, whereas those who genuinely can't afford them won't get them and end up dying younger. At least my suggestion would give people a chance to make a stronger case as they would have been able to do some testing. Simply put, I don't believe people's right to life should be determined by their income.

Fine, I won't publicly be using this forum any further as a means to communicate about an exchange.