Getting better medical supplies from GP?
I need advice on hows best to approach my GP regarding getting better equipment for my medical condition.
I currently use butterfly needles for my subcutaneous infusion, and have been told to ask for an alternative as butterflies are too painful and intrusive. It has been recommended I have Thalaset or Softset needles, I have asked the district nurse but she said I’d have to refer back to my GP. I know he is going to say I will have to have them on prescription because they are more expensive than butterflies, but I don’t see why I should pay! How do I approach this, and get round having to pay for NECESSARY medical supplies?
(There is a drug I could have instead of the sudcut infusion, but I have to have the infusion “because of lack of funding, that is why I am adamant I am not paying for the needles on prescription, if I have to pay, I want it to be for the oral version of the stuff I have to have injected for 12 hours!)
It infuriates me that there is a post code lottery regarding drugs and equipment, perhaps I could try another PCT? or does it have to be the PCT for the area you live?
June 27th, 2009 at 7:32 am
Just state your case, as you have here.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
You have to pay because as you have presented, you CAN use the current ones, you just don’t want to. They don’t /can’t cater for everyone’s preferences so if you want them too you need to pay for the privilege.
All you can do is ask and see what they say. There is no special way to do it. If your desperation for others was clear/ legit then I don’t see why they would say no. Ask first and then if you are refused try another doctor, or ask the nurse who told you to write a letter to your GP, or ask the GP to talk to the nurse to prove your need for them.
The budget is only so big and lots of things are unfair so don’t count on getting it