Anyone advise on the procedure for getting epi-pens from the GP?

[everyonesatit]

DS2 is highly allergic to all nuts, peanuts, soya, CMP, peas & pulses and eggs. He has been anaphylactic once. No-one has ever suggested an epi-pen, although I have asked his consultant many times. We usually call 999 when he has a reaction and are lucky to live near both the ambulance depot and the hospital.

Anyway...I made an appointment with the GP to ask for an epi-pen AGAIN. His recent RAST results were pretty bad, includin >100 for peanut. He's said he can't give us one right away, we'll need a referral to a specialist paed who'll do training etc before giving us one. He has no idea how long it will take .

Can anyone tell me if this is normal procedure? I'm in Scotland, in case that makes a difference.

I think it would be the same here (london) - GP wouldn't give epipen but would refer to Allergy clinic at hosp. COuld you try phoning the hospital if you know where you'll be referred to? Sounds as though you should definitely have one if you've had to call 999 for reactions.

we had diagnosis from hosp then gp gave us pens no questions asked.

Thanks for the replies.

Thats interesting Ohmeohmy, were you given training by anyone?

Heliotrope - no idea where we're being referred to. Probably need to find out!

Consulatant wrote a prescription there and then for my DD at her first appointment after a serious reaction to peanut (contact) she was less than a year old and way below the recommended weight for a junior epi-pen. His reasoning was that it was far safer to have one than not. He told me to contact the community nurse for training when it was convenient for me.

I am frequently baffled by the reluctance of some HCPs to prescribe them, and the various, frankly lame excuses that have been given to parents (that I have read on here). The side-effects from adrenaline are minimal in comparison to the very real danger oof fatality from a serious reaction. Keep pushing for one, everyonesatit.

I am very surprised, as soon as my daughter had a trip to A&E in an ambulance the GP gave us Epipens immediately! Though she is asthmatic too, maybe that made a stronger case?
If your child has a RAST of >100 that is the highest Grade 6 reaction. My dd only has a RAST of Grade 4 for 2 allergens.
What more evidence does your doctor need that your child is highly allergic?! As for training, it takes 2 mins to be shown how to use it. I think they are just fobbing you off.
Was it the GP or an allergist who carried out the RAST?

I wouldn't call it training as such, more told how to use it.

The bloods for the RAST were taken at our local hospital and then sent to Yorkhill for analysis.

I'm actually becoming quite worn down with the effort this is taking . I've been on at them since he was 7 months old. He's just turned 3!

I really do not understand why this is so difficult!