Cost of medication to NHS

moose1982

Hi,

Is there any way I can find out how much the NHS pay for medications please?

It's not for any sinister reasons, but I would like to change my insulin delivery method to another. At the moment I use the pre-filled pens and needles, but I would like to use a system called Insujet.

The injections via normal method is very painful and isn't helped by another condition I have (it makes me jump at needles, so scratch marks, bleeding, bruising etc). I'd like to make it a little easier for me. My local surgery has just said an out no, but my thinking is that if I were to make a small business case (if it is possible with pricings) via PALS to the local PCT, I could get this changed.

Soo, does anyone know where (or even if) I could find prices online?

Thanks

sizzler1893

The BNF has prices listed, its free to register. The insujet system has only been available to those who have a proven phobia of needles after assessment.

However I dont know if the rules have changed over the past few years.

mynameistallulah

This document details the cost implications, and the criteria for being allowed Insujet. Given that you can and do use the injections, I doubt you would be eligible.

moose1982

Thanks to you both, very helpful

I can inject, but because of the pain, I sometimes don't and just eat a lot less instead. Even if I end up paying the initial costs but the NHS pay for the ongoing costs, if the pricing isn't a daft amount more, that could work for me.

mynameistallulah

moose1982 wrote: »

Thanks to you both, very helpful

I can inject, but because of the pain, I sometimes don't and just eat a lot less instead. Even if I end up paying the initial costs but the NHS pay for the ongoing costs, if the pricing isn't a daft amount more, that could work for me.

If you want to pay you would need to go private - there is no mechanism in the NHS for a patient to pay for the initial cost and then revert to NHS treatment. You could consult a private GP, but the ongoing costs would be considerable (you would be paying for the GP's time, as well as the costs of the treatment).

Have you looked at pain management techniques? This seems a far more viable option.

moose1982

mynameistallulah wrote: »

If you want to pay you would need to go private - there is no mechanism in the NHS for a patient to pay for the initial cost and then revert to NHS treatment. You could consult a private GP, but the ongoing costs would be considerable (you would be paying for the GP's time, as well as the costs of the treatment).

Have you looked at pain management techniques? This seems a far more viable option.

Shame that I wouldn't be able to pay towards it, Lincolnshire NHS suggests it costing roughly £430 per year more (2 lots of insulin, 24 hour and a mealtime). I didn't know that the items would need renewing annually and so it is a shame I cannot sit down with the PCT and contribute towards it. Private isn't an option for me sadly.

What type of pain management techniques would be available? When I had a lumbar puncture, I ended up blocking a hospital bed up while waiting for a X-ray guided machine because I couldn't do the normal way. I've had intravenous solution before and couldn't cope with the tubing, even after it was covered up and I was given some sedatives. When I give some blood for my diabetes checks, I have Emla cream, blindfold and even then my body jerks when I feel the needle and all the time it is in me, sometimes nearly kicking the poor lady doing it as well.

I'm just a nightmare with needles and a big wuss

bitsandpieces

It does sound like you find injecting unusually difficult. Even if you don't have a phobia, if you're skipping food in order to avoid injecting you clearly find injecting very aversive (and this won't be doing your health any good). I wonder if there's a local diabetes charity - or support group for the disorder which makes you find injecting so hard - who could support you in approaching the PCT/PALS?

I've no idea whether you've any realistic chance of success. I think there's a case to be made, though, that this will allow you to manage your diabetes better and reduce risk of injury - thus reducing long-term costs. But whether that bears any weight in terms of getting the treatment funded...

mynameistallulah

moose1982 wrote: »

Shame that I wouldn't be able to pay towards it, Lincolnshire NHS suggests it costing roughly £430 per year more (2 lots of insulin, 24 hour and a mealtime). I didn't know that the items would need renewing annually and so it is a shame I cannot sit down with the PCT and contribute towards it. Private isn't an option for me sadly.

What type of pain management techniques would be available? When I had a lumbar puncture, I ended up blocking a hospital bed up while waiting for a X-ray guided machine because I couldn't do the normal way. I've had intravenous solution before and couldn't cope with the tubing, even after it was covered up and I was given some sedatives. When I give some blood for my diabetes checks, I have Emla cream, blindfold and even then my body jerks when I feel the needle and all the time it is in me, sometimes nearly kicking the poor lady doing it as well.

I'm just a nightmare with needles and a big wuss

I don't know what pain management techniques would be suitable, my experience is on the funding side of it. From what you have described you do not have a phobia, you dislike pain - and that is true of most people.