My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Allergies and intolerances

EPI PEN question for parents with SCHOOL AGE CHILDREN

47 replies

drosophila · 05/09/2006 13:08

If you have an Epi Pen prescribed for your child how many do you get. DS's allergy consultant has always said that DS needs 4 (2 for school and 2 for home). The idea being that if one fails or if you use it incorrectly then you have a back up and if you are more than half an hour away from a Hosp you may need to administer 2 as one only buys you a half hour.

Anyway my GP is now refusing to prescribe 4 as they are so expensive and will only prescribe 2. I have phone Consultant's secretary to see if they will contact GP but I wondered if other Epi Pen holders have a view.

Thanks

OP posts:
Report
Catilla · 05/09/2006 13:25

I have a repeat prescription setup (cos they do expire quite quickly) so can just drop that at reception and get another 2.... no-one asks/checks how many you have and what their dates are, whether you've lost them/used them etc.

Failing that, can you get consultant to write to GP?

Report
marz · 05/09/2006 13:29

Yes I agree. I have 4, and at one stage had 6 as chemist ordered too many. But they expire yearly...almost and so it makes sense to have a repeat.
Really annoys me that GP's are more worried about funding than child's safety. My GP has made comments about me asking for prescriptions when I could have paid OTC....I complained to the practice manager.
I would agree. Get consultant to write to GP to EDUCATE him/her.

Report
marz · 05/09/2006 13:31

Forgot to add...my allergy nurse (who gave epipen training) at the hospital clinic had suggested 4....(2 for me and 2 for school/nursery)

Report
drosophila · 05/09/2006 17:11

I have asked the Consultant's secretary to write to GP so hopefully this will happen. I will speak to practice manager on Thurs. Anyone know how expensive they are?

OP posts:
Report
mell2 · 06/09/2006 11:02

The cost on the internet seems to be about 80 dollars each.

I had the same problem. GP prescribed two epipens for my ds but when i had my appt. with paed allergist, she told me he should have 4, Two at home and two at school.

GP did prescribe them but i was ready for a fight! I had a real struggle getting him referred in the first place.

My epipens only seem to have 6months before they expire. Have to phone receptionist this week coz they run out soon - will let you know if i have any problems!

Report
drosophila · 06/09/2006 13:18

I have just spoken to GP on the phone and I was told that it was mainly a cost issue. Apparently they cost £28 each. She told me to write to the practice manager as it was their decision not hers. Hmmm I thought it was a clinical decision not a financial one.

Anyway will write. Thanks Guys.

OP posts:
Report
brimfull · 06/09/2006 13:32

I have repeat prescription and have four pens ,2 at nursery,2 with me

Report
mell2 · 06/09/2006 14:42

I think it is disgusting that gp's are not prescribing enough epipens because of the cost.
At the end of the day, allergists are the experts on this (not GP's) and if we are told our dc need x amount of epi-pens, then we should have them.

Rant over

Report
livelife · 06/09/2006 14:43

Get 4 - don't play with kids lives! If GP won't see sense offer to pay for the 2 extra ones yourself to show how serious you are. If DS in full time skool is imp they are always there. what allergies does DS have? also asthma n eczema? shitty stuff. there will hopefully be a great book out soon for parents of allergic children written by parents of allergic children not doctors! Waiting to print. X

Report
Blu · 06/09/2006 14:50

Ask the school / LEA about it, and if they have their own guidelines.

My friend's dd has severe food allergies, and the school have insisted on one for each location where she might eat food. i.e dining hall, playground, classroom. They have also sent teachers on a training course as to how to use one - and when.

If the school demand more, that may bump up your case.

Report
longwaytogo · 06/09/2006 15:09

i only have one, and that was only because she was going on guide camp and they didn't want to take her without one.

Report
sallyrosie · 06/09/2006 16:00

It is the primary care trust not the GPs you should be moaning about. The GP practice isn't personally paying for the epipen and I doubt they care how many they prescribe - the managers at the PCT who look at the prescribing budget for all the practices will though...

Report
Podmog · 06/09/2006 16:09

Message withdrawn

Report
Podmog · 06/09/2006 16:11

Message withdrawn

Report
alison222 · 06/09/2006 16:56

We have 4. 2 for school and 2 for home. GP has never questioned how many I have. Paed told me I must have 2 for me and 2 for school as if 1st doesn't work you repeat with the 2nd 10 mins later.
We are very close to the hospital - but it could easily take more than 10 mins in busy London traffic to get there.

Report
drosophila · 06/09/2006 20:18

Thanks guys. I have written to practice manager and have cut and paste a bit form NHS direct which states that you may need to administer 2 if there is no response within 5 mins. The GP told me it wasn't her decision (even when there are clinical reasons to have 2) and that the Budgets are controlled by the PCT. I have asked for a response in writing as this usually scares people.

I will pay if I get a negative response as I too think it is important.

OP posts:
Report
marz · 06/09/2006 21:20

It is so awful that you have to fight for what ought to be basics....to save a child's life potentially. Then they are quite quick to save certain suicide victims and the PCT think that is justified??!

Report
Vianne · 06/09/2006 22:15

You're right you need 4, 2 sets of 2 in date. The manufacturer now markets a pack of 2 (as that's how they should be prescribed, point this out to your GP)

Report
bluebear · 06/09/2006 22:23

We have 4 - 2 for home and 2 for school. We got the prescription for the first 2 before ds started school, and then went back for a 'repeat prescription' when he started school, so GP only prescribed 2 at a time (don't know if we'd get 4 in one go if we'd asked.

Report
drosophila · 08/09/2006 10:23

I spoke to the pharmasist abou tit and he suggested waiting for a few weeks and then put another request in. If they query it just say I broke one. A little white lie gets you what you want. He also said that they are less likely to care as the budget is spread throughout the year.

Crazy isn't it?

OP posts:
Report
toofatmum · 08/09/2006 10:35

I have just looked up the price in my pharmacy formulary they are £28.05 each and the recommendation is that it may have to be delivered every 15 mins if necessary so on the basis of that your GP should just shut up and do the right thing.

Report
drosophila · 08/09/2006 10:56

Whats a pharmacy formulary toof? Are you a Pharmacist (why can't Ispell that?). Do you have any link I could print off and show them.

OP posts:
Report

Don’t want to miss threads like this?

Weekly

Sign up to our weekly round up and get all the best threads sent straight to your inbox!

Log in to update your newsletter preferences.

You've subscribed!

sallyrosie · 08/09/2006 12:49

Again - it isn't the GP who controls the decisions on cost - it is the PCT! Saying that the GP should 'shut up and do the right thing' is a bit harsh...

Report
marz · 08/09/2006 13:37

Sallyrosie,
I think the reason people are so upset about this is because it is a life threatening issue and whoever is to blame really is irrelevant, the GP though, is the 1st point of contact for us. One would hope the GP understands the nature of the situation, (granted, they are not consultants) but in the case of something life threatening that is increasingly more common, they ought to be educated about this and if we all complain every time we are subjected to these issues then maybe the GPs will act upon it. (whether by complaining to the PCT trust or by just prescribing, then they will see the budget is too little.)

Report
drosophila · 08/09/2006 14:54

I understand that the PCT are responsible for the budget which is why I have written to the Practice Manager and not the Doc. If ,however, there is a clinical/medical decision to be made then shouldn't it be done by the GP and not the PCT. At the very least shouldn't the medical opinion of the GP inform the budget. Therin lies the problem the opinion of the GP probably does not mirror that of Allergy experts.

I will let you all know what response I get.

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.