Baclofen and Epilim (no syringes being provided

Peaches66

My son has cerebral palsy and epilepsy, so needs medication several times a day . We were supplied with syringes from his community nurse while he was a child , but now he has gone into adult care we cannot get syringes to give him his medication everyday . I have phoned our doctor , who said the community nurses should supply them , however we contacted them through the adult learning disability team , but they won’t supply them , so I went back to my sons doctor , who tried ordering them , but thevon line prescription order won’t allow him to do so . I asked if they had a policy , but they don’t . Has anyone had this same problem as I need help with this problem . Thank you 

Richard_Scope

Hi @Peaches66
I'm sorry to read that you having such difficulties in obtaining the medical supplies that your son needs. I'm going to tag in my colleague @Jean_Scope who may have knowledge about what the next steps are.

Jean_OT

Hi @Peaches66

Thanks to @Richard_Scope for inviting me to join this conversation.

Unfortunately, not the first time I have heard of this in recent years since NHS budgets got so tight. But if these syringes are essential to your sons health care because he can't safely take his meds without them and they can't show you a policy that says that they can't be prescribed then they need to sort it out asap. 

You will probably need to really fight your corner.If you decide to fight this these thoughts might help get a positive outcome: 

• If you haven’t already made a formal complaint, using the NHS complaints procedure, you could do that, escalating the complaint as high as possible/necessary. 
• involve your MP, 
• ask for advice/support from the Patient’s Association  https://www.patients-association.org.uk/ and Healthwatch https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/home
• Check out if there is a local advocacy service/Disabled people organisation which can support you
• If you can network with others this has effected consider starting a campaign: https://www.scope.org.uk/campaigns/community/diy-toolkit

I'd be interested to hear what outcome you get, good luck

Best Wishes

Jean 

Peaches66

Thank you very much for your help . I will keep you updated on the out come . I will fight this all the way . Again thank you . 
                           Josephine