Here is the (letter without address details etc) that I am sending to my CCG research dept.
Please message me any improvements that could be made.
So many thanks to
@Spiker for being proof reader and editor and fact and suggestion maker.....thank you Spiker.
Feel free to edit for selves..
Dear Sir / Madam
I am writing to your research and development department to ask whether you could research how a new product in Diabetes management may help those type 1's especially youngsters to achieve better HbA1c levels and therefore a better, healthier life for themselves.
It is widely known that 94% of type 1's do not achieve an HbA1c that falls within the NHS targets. I am not connected in anyway to do with the Company launching this product. I am a type 1 diabetic myself of 30 years and this is my only interest in this product.
My suggestion to yourselves is this:
Find 6 youngsters from 6 to 24 years of age from one GP practice that are type 1's and fail to attend hospitals, and fail to have their regular testing by the GP practice due to the Patient not attending. Invite them all to the GP practice to be given an opportunity to try out some new equipment.
Monitor these Patients over one year compared to 6 other non compliant type 1 youngsters on normal blood testing meters. See whether this equipment is the way for type 1 non compliant diabetics to manage their health better,and of course weigh this information up against any unplanned admissions, test strips etc. Continue to monitor these 12 diabetics for a further 3 years and analyse the frequency and cost efficiencies to include doctors appointments, illnesses, complications and test strips.
Ideally you would also consider a trial by Patients such as myself, that have pumps, but are up available to get funding from your CCG for a Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM).
The product is called "Abbott Freestyle Libre". Please see
https://www.freestylelibre.co.uk/. This product needs to be researched to see if it can improve the way that Type 1 diabetics are managing themselves in Northamptonshire. This product removes the necessity for blood strips.
Suggested benefits of this research and development:
Costs Benefits:
A) I give you an example of my own costings:
300 blood strips every 28 days £95.94
(These would no longer be needed at all).
Cost of new equipment is initially £40.00
Ongoing sensor costs then are per 28 days £94.00
The benefits that a Type 1diabetic may gain and indeed your CCG is that, unlike any previous system, there is no calibration required by using blood strips and this completely removes the costs of existing meters and blood strips to Type 1 diabetics.
B) if the ability to check Blood Glucose readings on demand avoids even one unplanned admission in to hospital in the lifetime of this product, then this will outweigh any costings of emergency care and follow up treatment.
GP Benefits:
A GP, DSN or hospital care team would have CGM-like data to review with the Patient. More accurate, frequent data to make better decisions of care for the Patient and thus enabling better decisions of treatments and giving Health Professionals better prospects of keeping T1 diabetics out of hospitals with complications which are having huge impacts on budgets.
Patient Benefits:
A Patient will only have to scan their sensor. Many Patients hate doing blood tests, especially in public or in work places. This device just looks like a mobile phone or iPod and will be less obtrusive for the Patient. Currently many Patients have to keep blood testing equipment in their lockers or medical rooms in workplaces, and disposal of blood strips after testing can be a nuisance too. This simple gadget would eliminate all "barriers" that Patients have to not test themselves.
Personally, after being a Type 1 diabetic for over 30 years, (without complications) then I list these benefits as I personally see them. As a Patient I fully realise the budgetary demands made upon the NHS, and indeed I work closely with my GP Practice (xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx) to help them as a volunteer. I send this proposal for research as I genuinely believe from my experiences that this equipment could revolutionise the care that Patients take of themselves and the care and costings that NHS persons will be able to give on a longterm basis.
I am asking that you trial this product and evaluate the full costs and benefits to the NHS and Patients. I think this research could then be used as a study paper to deliver to the whole of the NHS.
I await your response and your analysis of my proposal.
Yours faithfully
