Why don't (non-medication) prescriptions last longer?

[Georgefromthefamousfive]

I have a DC with type 1 diabetes, He needs various prescriptions with this but the insulin needles need to be requested every 17 days on average - The box has 100 needles and he uses 6 per day. This just seems like a lot of work - why can't you request more? I have asked the GP and it is just a No from them, but every 17 days I have to request the prescription and collect it - and that doesn't include the other medications (that run out at different times and I am not allowed to request early!).

How much work for the GP and the pharmacy to keep my DC in insulin needles? It seems excessive. If they gave 300 needles it would be a third of the current prescriptions for this.

Does anyone know if this normal for prescriptions? Thank you for reading, I am grateful to the NHS for everything but this just doesn't make sense to me.

Why don't long term medication prescriptions last longer as well. I will be on meds for the rest of my life, but I still can't get more than 28 days worth at a time.

I agree about medications - I have a prescription that needs renewed every 28 days, but I thought there might be more tangible reasons for this - risk of overdose/monitoring or occasional blood tests required at times etc.... But I still think they should be longer where possible.

Thanks for responding!

Same. It's so frustrating.

It makes no sense particularly for conditions that don't 'go away'.
It would surely save the NHS money in the long run and would potentially prevent people from loosing control of their condition.

Excuse my ignorance but would it make it easier to use an online pharmacy so they request from your Dr and deliver to your door. I am now on 5 medications and use an online pharmacy who message me when I need to order