I Feel Ripped Off Again Rant

[buildone]

I have just brought some fine filters for my Respironics system one apap machine from a well know Uk website.
Stupidly I thought it was a pack I was buying as it didn’t mention quantity . So I put my order in at a cost of £6.00 Plus P&p another pound or so for postage. Today 1 single fine filter turned up.!
In the Usa I can buy 6 plus 1 foam genuine filter pack for £5.57 + 8.08 P&p or 12 plus 2 foam pack for £8.68 + £8.08 p&p delivered to the Uk.
You can all do the sums, ripped off again. I don’t believe as an individual person I can buy cheaper than these big Uk based company’s.
I also brought a mask which I paid £6.00 p&p and the filter was delivered with it!!!!
When are we going to be treated fairly in the Uk.

I’ve not mentioned this before but feel it’s only right as I’m ranting. My machine cost me £297 delivered to Uk from the States including built in humidifier, But is on sell in the Uk for £599 Plus P&p. And yes Respironices warranty still covers the machine in the Uk. This was my second machine from the States and they have never gone wrong yet.

[Tigers Fan]

When we ALL complain to UK government for a long, long time. Ah! but they drive up prices with taxes.

In a global market, we have to buy globally.

The internet brings democracy!

Take your holidays for free -nearly - in the US by buying all your clothes, electronics, etc whilst over there.

A friend takes a small suitcase of personal effects with her to the States plus a large suitcase with two others inside it - Russian doll style. Buys for the family, comes home loaded down, saves a fortune (enough to cover the airfare and more so she sees relatives for free).

TF

[Berneta]

Ironic

Hi guys, the ironic thing is if you buy stuff in the US--its almost always made in India, China, or Japan. It would be cheaper to go to those countries to get stuff cheaper. Its a big beef over here--that so much is imported-- that our own crafters and factories are no longer in business, or are moving overseas. Anything "Made in the US" is in short supply! Even a lot of our food is imported --grapes and other fruits come from South America, rice comes from Spain, And who knows what crosses or Mexican/ American border! Berneta

[James @ Intus]

As you can pretty much only get them from Respironics directly, or us, there's a good chance it was us. Filter prices are quite silly, I agree. And we recently discovered that the M Series filters are the same dimensions as the System One filters but Respironics charge the same for a single System One filter as for a 6 pack M Series filter. Doesn't seem right. It's only a bit of paper after all.

So if it was us, sorry! If it wasn't us, then indeed we also find it weird.

Most machines from the US are what's called "hospital overstock". It's part of the reason why the healthcare system there is even more a shambles than here. Hospital/insurance buys machines from Respironics. They don't use them, sell them on to internet companies (profiting twice, as it was paid by insurance money to begin with) who are not official resellers and they sell them even outside the US, even when they're not allowed to contractually and legally. Whether or not you get servicing for machines with US serial numbers is hit and miss. Your choice, your risk. Also, Customs does seize non-CE goods at the border at times.

But just be glad you're not in Ireland, Germany or Greece. There you'll RENT a CPAP for £150 a month, indefinitely. That makes the UK looking quite decent.

[Sparticus]

Call me stupid!!!

I dont get it, I keep reading about people buying there machines? Am I missing something? Why pay out all that dosh when they are free, do these things come with a turbo or go faster stripes or something? I got my CPAP machine which I didnt like so I asked my clinic for APAP which they gladly exchanged, I then wanted a Humidifier which they gladly handed over. Why buy?

[symmit]

There are many reasons to buy, for me it was queue jumping, I may yet go back to my GP and get in line again in order to have the option of a taxpayer special. For others it's the preference of being in control of their therapy choices, or just wanting the best way to blow air into their faces.

Choice is a wonderful thing. Any beancounter in an NHS trust doing his job will insist on the least expensive yet most effective equipment and the manufacturers will compete to supply, hence the reports here fixed CPAP machines and no humidifiers being the general issue. I'm happy to invest my own cash into an auto machine and am convinced of the benefits of full data and auto adjust, I'd like to not have to pay for consumables and stuff though.

[pavarottiman]

U do get it.

Hi, Sparticus, we down in Kent don't get APAP off the NHS, indeed when I was first diagnosed about 5 years ago, there was a wait to get a second hand machine, I bought one within a week of having my first use of a CPAP.
That trial from the NHS was for 2 nights then it had to go back, I contacted Resmed and bought my first APAP from them, the NHS do however service my machine FOC each year and test it, but the guy who does it says he knows little about the APAP machines, so if there is a major problem then it's back to Resmed.
My cousine in Aberdeen had a far better service for his apnea than there has ever been in Kent and he's been a hosehead about 9 years.
Best wishes
Alex.

[Sparticus]

Still dont get it?

Whats this Que Jumping, do you have to wait in a que for a machine? Im shocked if this is the case. When I got my machine, I was shown into a room full of them and I mean lots (maybe 100's) I never had to wait or anything and was told if I need anything just ask. I have asked for things like masks and the like and been told just come and pick them up. It seems we are years ahead up here in Scotland?

[BobMcL]

Thats just about the same as Oxford then Spartacus ... nothing too much bother and every nurse I speak to has all the time in the world to help you ... cant say fairer than that .. can you?

[silvercarper]

Whats this Que Jumping, do you have to wait in a que for a machine? Im shocked if this is the case. When I got my machine, I was shown into a room full of them and I mean lots (maybe 100's) I never had to wait or anything and was told if I need anything just ask. I have asked for things like masks and the like and been told just come and pick them up. It seems we are years ahead up here in Scotland?

I still have to buy my own full face mask as the hospital dont supply them.

"Just come and pick them up" you must be JOKING!!!

[Tom @ Intus]

Whats this Que Jumping, do you have to wait in a que for a machine? Im shocked if this is the case. When I got my machine, I was shown into a room full of them and I mean lots (maybe 100's) I never had to wait or anything and was told if I need anything just ask. I have asked for things like masks and the like and been told just come and pick them up. It seems we are years ahead up here in Scotland?

It's waiting lists that are the problem. The waiting list for a sleep study on average is about 14 weeks I believe. Then you need to wait a couple of weeks for your results. After that there's another waiting list to get an appointment for your equipment etc etc.

We've heard horror stories of the whole process taking over a year, which for many people is not an option. It does depend where you're based as to how long the process will take, although we went to a talk recently where we were told that the average time from start to finish in Scotland is about 42 weeks.

When you consider that the DVLA can take away your license between being diagnosed with OSA and being able to prove compliance, you can see why people would rather pay the money and get their equipment within days rather than weeks or months - particularly when your job and career relies on driving.

[meldrew]

Well I must be in the best postcode ever!

Sleep study within 4 weeks - and it would have been sooner but I couldn't make the first appointment.

Brand new APAP machine and comfort gel mask 8 days later.

Replacement filters given out when I go to see the Consultant.

It's a real shame the NHS does not give the same (in my experience excellent) service throughout the country.

[silvercarper]

You even get REPLACEMENT FILTERS!!!!!!!!!

[Sparticus]

Well I must be in the best postcode ever!

Sleep study within 4 weeks - and it would have been sooner but I couldn't make the first appointment.

Brand new APAP machine and comfort gel mask 8 days later.

Replacement filters given out when I go to see the Consultant.

It's a real shame the NHS does not give the same (in my experience excellent) service throughout the country.

Yep, same here victor, when I got my machine the nurse gave me 4 filters and said if I need anymore either come and get them or we will post them same with machine and mask any probs or equipment just ask. I rate our Sleep hospital ***** 5Star, probably why its one of the best in the world.

[Sparticus]

Polite Cough!

It does depend where you're based as to how long the process will take, although we went to a talk recently where we were told that the average time from start to finish in Scotland is about 42 weeks.

From Start to finish for me probably took around 6-8 weeks from Doctor to specialist, to home study, to sleep study to home with my machine. 42 weeks worst case more like and I still find that hard to believe as we must have the biggest sleep department in the UK, but then again with all this sleeping going on who knows