Ongoing saga of getting back my b12 p... - Pernicious Anaemi...

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Ongoing saga of getting back my b12 prescription.

Nackapan profile image
27 Replies

Pharmacy telephone appointment on having to change surgeries. B12 reinstated May 2023

The removed in Ausgust

Then reinstated

The removed. Told I needed s Gps appointment .

Reinstated 12/10

Removed 27/ 10

3 letters.

No reply.

Then 1 ampoule reinstated. The one I geg at the surgery I presume.

Outraged a pharmacy admin removed it overriding 2 neurologists and numerous Gps .

I rang thus morning .

Prescription queries.

The very same admin (who had removed it twice ) as i asked who I was speaking too .

She seemed shocked.

Surely when you pick up the phone you announce yourself

Name and staff status .

She eventually listened after talking over me about I now have to 'conform ' to this group of surgeries system.

I pointed out my mum who has never moved surgeries and in the same group does get 5 ampoules at a time .

Silence

I pointed out I saw the Gp as requested and she removed it again.

Answer was she has to work globally as noone has b12 more than 3 monthly .??

It was done in the patients best interest to kerp control as could be harmful.

I had a appropriate answer for everything.

Also stating I was not informed either .

Breach of your system you should adhere to.

The system is not in thr patients best interest.

Causing upset and stress.

A prescription issued should be honoured .

A 'review ' done but then removed 15 days later as the computer highlighted it .

She says she's put a note on.

Exceptional circumstances.

Well we know better.

Will see if sorted now 🤞

What s hoo ha

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Nackapan profile image
Nackapan
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27 Replies
Janma123 profile image
Janma123

The NHS is drowning itself in its own bureaucracy and inefficiency! It is creating so much stress and duplication of everything that must be costing a small (no make that very large!) fortune and achieving nothing.

Good to see that you are now able to stand up and fight it though! Jane

wedgewood profile image
wedgewood

The NHS has to work “ globally” and no-one gets a B12 injection more often than once in 3 months ? . I’ve honestly never heard of such nonsense. How can anyone working in a NHS surgery utter such rubbish ? Should be reported . I’m glad that you can stand up to such nonsense , but it’s so stressful for you .

Wheat profile image
Wheat

Hello Nackapan, 'working globally', rubbish . This 3 months is llke a mantra, I'm sure they have all hypnotised themselves, and as PAS and Tracey Whitty says there is no clinical basis for it.

Extraordinary,: administrative staff and district nurses overule the gp, and patient not advised.

Fingers crossed it's sorted out now 🤞🙂🙂

Clare184 profile image
Clare184

Well done for handling that call so well, it is so frustrating when things like this happen. I honestly don't think they realise how much impact it has on our health they are messing with it all the time with no thought. Hope it is finally resolved for you

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toClare184

Thank-you for all replies. My repeat prescription back on !

For how long ?

I really hope that 'note' is read .

3 letters totally ignored .

No apology.

I suddenly thought to phone directly .

DIY as usual.

Narwhal10 profile image
Narwhal10

Sorry it’s all toing and froing. I’m with wedgewood on this one. Told my GP partner that I self inject in writing. What can they do about it ?

BIG FAT ZERO IS THE ANSWER.

I prefer my 3 monthly appointment go to someone else. But it’s not on your records, I hear you cry ?

Erm, slight problem with that.

Oh, yes it is.🎭

That’s the way to do it.

Blood test at time, date, place.

Result time, date, place.

Ordered by time, date, place,

Analysed by time, date, place, sometimes type of machine.

First injection by name, time, date, place.

Second injection by name, time, date, place.

Third injection by name, time, date, place.

Fourth injection by name, time, date, place.

Fifth injection by name, time, date, place.

Sixth injection by name, time, date, place.

Shock horror - that’s just 10 records for loading doses. 😉

The letter was ANOTHER record. 😈

This does not include the pharmacy ordering side of things where GPs order from pharmacies. They have a system, they have their own system where hydroxycobalamin will have our name on.

There will be time, dates, pharmacists names on each separate type of item.

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support

Well this new power balance is working out just as expected.

How can a pharmacist override a GPs decision re treatment that has been recommended by a consultant ? They were party to none of the appointments, tests and examinations that led to this decision .

If the chemist computer says "No" for whatever reason, surely the answer would be to double-check once with the surgery, just in case an error in frequency or strength has been made- and then enter the data that will stop the computer from alerting about this particular decision ever again.

Or just turn it off and doublecheck the work in person !

"Exceptional circumstances" - can't you try to be a little more uniform to make the chemist computer's life a little easier ?

I applaud your patience, and wonder who will apologise to you on behalf of the chemist computer, since the computer appears to be shouldering the blame here ?

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toCherylclaire

Pharmacy admin no more than a robot/ computer.Following instructions with no thought yo check if correct .

Was very happy when she answered the phone .

She was aware straight away who i am.

Reluctant to give hef first name only.

I just said I'm glad it's you . Just the person i need to speak to.

She trued to talk ovef me a few times.

Anyway second best to face yo face.

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support in reply toNackapan

A little additional power going to her head ?

It seems that, increasingly often, there is an attitude that, if you don't apologise, you don't need to accept the blame -and can therefore be affronted.

I don't know why. It seems cowardly, immature.

I'm going to blame Boris and Donald, for setting such bad examples. They will refuse to accept it of course.

Narwhal10 profile image
Narwhal10 in reply toNackapan

Oh whoops Nackapan, did you hit the record button by accident on your SMART phone ?

One has to be so careful with swipe left and right.

Narwhal10 profile image
Narwhal10 in reply toCherylclaire

Cherylclaire,

I doubt very much anybody will ‘apologise’. The doctor will be pointing the finger at the pharmacy, the pharmacist will be pointing their finger at the computer.

The NHS is defensive and siloed.

bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3099

Nackapan, is having this upward battle again and again and again. The problem is:-

1) The computer packages.

2) The algorithm for PA/B12D was made and drawn up by a person(s) with not enough knowledge of the condition.

3) The algorithm has to take into account funding. So, treatment regimes are undertaken as cheaply as possible.

Me, I am trying to find out which language the NHS databases are written in.

Whatever Trust or Health Board, Nackapan is in, something will flag their frequency quite often. So, there are 2 options :-

i) The first, I have already advised, email the Data Protection Officer.

(They can override the Computer Systems to some degree).

ii) In writing, Nackapan can inform their GP that they do self-inject, where they import from, hydroxycobalamin, dosage, frequency of injections, sub-cutaneous.

After all what did Nackapan do for a living ? How long for ? Cor Blimey guvnor, did they work for the NHS ? 🙀

By admitting to self-injection is showing CANDOUR.

cqc.org.uk/guidance-provide...

Nackapan can also write to their GP, I am self medicating to reduce homocysteine levels. Thus reducing my risk of stroke.

The end.

🐳

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toNarwhal10

I've been in touch with a data protection officer.Not done the forms as yet.

The surgery are aware I do sc at home and buy my own needles.

I have IM at the surgery every 4-6 weeks.

Doing /saying anymore would further jeopardise my 2 weekly prescription .

So I'm not.

If I was only prescribed 2-3 monthly it woukd be another matter.

Narwhal10 profile image
Narwhal10 in reply toNackapan

It is highly likely as part of the design and specifications of a computer package. The Software Engineer was TOLD to put :-

A _search_engine :-

(start.value)

Such as a ;

n>= 4

*per_YEAR.

count_?

end(os.system)

END.

So, your medication and frequency is flagged 🚩🚩🚩

It is not the doctor’s fault, nor the pharmacist’s fault, it is not the Software Engineer’s.

It is the person with the purse strings (aka Fat Cat) who asked a Mathematician to create an extremely lengthy algorithm to include certain parameters. Query hydroxycobalamin that is prescribed and collected more than “4 times a year.”

😘

Enuffisenuf profile image
Enuffisenuf

Report the pharmacist to the CCG.

🤬

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toEnuffisenuf

The pharmacy admin . Said she worked under/for the G.p partners.

The G..p I saw wasn't a partner.

I wasn't told i had to see a partner.

When you get triage to get an appointment in thr first place you have no choice who you see .

Was told by admin. shd did as directed as a control ov how much B12 being prescribed.

She had never heard of patients doing their own.

So her back is covered .

And not concerned about checking it is correct .

Or actually telling the patient or asking the patient .

Enuffisenuf profile image
Enuffisenuf in reply toNackapan

You have no evidence that the pharmacist was 'following orders.' I'd report anyway. and let the CCG look into it.

If she was just stopping treatment plans as a cost saving exercise, which is what the excuse sounds like, with no medical review of the patients that has to be against even shoddy NHS rules. They wouldn't take away insulin!

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toEnuffisenuf

No. I said that to her.

Narwhal10 profile image
Narwhal10 in reply toEnuffisenuf

cost saving exercise. 👍🏻

Seabird4 profile image
Seabird4

Omg another unnecessary stressful issue you've had to deal with when it could all be avoided. Glad you got it resolved.If you tally up the cost of all the effort, time, pressure, aggravation etc. etc. for yourself & the pharmacy too it doesn't make sense. Tally it up for all the people on this forum who have similar barriers/battles & the cost/benefit just goes out the window.

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toSeabird4

Yes .They need to sort it .

As otherwise stats will state everyone can cope on 3 monthly.

Or so ill another false diagnosis.

This why I continue .

If it gets too much i will stop.

I'm tenacious when I'm wronged.

Also I would never get it back.

I was even considering accepting 6/8 weekly to stay on my records.

Presently 2 weekly back on .

Seabird4 profile image
Seabird4

Good on you. My frequency was changed from 6 to 8 weeks with the new GPS. I've had such a protracted diagnosis etc. I just couldn't face the stress of challenging so I just SI in between. So every 4 weeks or as required. I was shown by the practice nurse how to SI safely. Hope you manage to maintain your frequency

Jason_h123 profile image
Jason_h123

so sorry to hear you’ve had all this again, especially as it’s been such an ill informed decision.

I know how exhausting the battle can be but I’m currently on the winning side although I’m just waiting for the time an admin person decides that my EOD SI prescription goes against what they think I should be having !!

So far they are following the consultants letters though and have even invited me in for a folate and ferritin test as per the letter!!

Good luck with the battle x

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toJason_h123

Good so far so good. I've been si with prescription for over 3 yesrs . Also got every othef day restarted after a 5 week horrendous gap after loading . Then went to weekly . Then 2 weekly for over a year.

Then bought my own in covid as surgeries in more chaos. .

And went back to weekly .

I coukd only take on the fight knowing I've plenty in stock from them and purchases.

I have no need to push them further.

Sleepybunny profile image
Sleepybunny

I salute you for your persistence.

For anyone having difficulties getting treatment, the thread below may be useful especially if you're in UK.

Thread about Patient Safety, has links for those in UK having difficult health experiences with B12 deficiency

healthunlocked.com/pasoc/po...

Nackapan profile image
Nackapan

8I like to have 2 sources incase one goes wrong.

I like to have IM at the surgery

I want it clearly stated on my prescription not hidden in letters.

Why shouldn't I get it,?

I want B12 more recognised and on G.p agendas

I want to challenge upstarts trying to punch above their grade.

I am known .

I'm not having my b12 deficiency dismissed by G.p surgery

I feel if we are all forced to self treat things will not move forward .

Not be recorded.

Will make treating mord thsn 2-3 monthly impossible to get.

The times I'm told

NOONE has mord than 2-3 monthly.

They need to know most do.

I find the injustice harder to cope with thsn fighting it.

I may well give up .

Unlikely at present .

Hope that explains why Narwhal10

Cherylclaire profile image
CherylclaireForum Support

Yes - I'm off to the GP tomorrow -and hoping we can have the conversation about calcium tablets, cholesterol and statins, rather than wasting my 10 minutes with the GP having been totally distracted by the inevitably high B12 result.

No guarantees.

Graffiti on a rusty pair of gates: DON'T GIVE UP. YOU'RE CLOSER THAN YOU THINK.
Nackapan profile image
Nackapan in reply toCherylclaire

Hope that goes well.

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