Are all T1 Diabetics treated the same by the NHS?

[Jaylee]

I think the problem is that the NHS isn't going to get any more money. This pits one group against another. IMO governments should increase the health spend to meet the needs of an aging population and more expensive technologies. There is enough money - they just need to redirect it.

Hi Catlady,

What's the situation in your part of the wolrld (New Zealand.) with regards ro health authority funding?

 

[mrspuddleduck]

As one of the others (type 3c) with brittle, insulin dependent diabetes and steroid dependent to complicate matters, my experience is that it is a bit of a postcode lottery. I have to pay for my ketone strips, half my testing strips, and lancets, been told I'd benefit from a Libre but there is no money so I'll have to pay, have to literally fight for an appointment with the DSN, and now been reallocated to a Consultant that admits he's never heard of 'people like me so we'll leave it to the GP and see me in six months, but if you get illl phone 999'. Yep, I'd agree your health is in no ones hands but your own!!! Sue xxx

 

[donnellysdogs]

It is going to get worse at hospitals...

GPs In our CCG's have had NHS ENgland forcing them by Oct 1st to decide on the following;
() stay on PMS contracts anf be subjected to a review.. If the review isn't good our GPs would lose £68000 off their budget immediately.
1) change to GMS contract immediately and lose £68000 immediately
2) accept a gradual change over 4 years and lose £68k over 4 years.

What will happen is that GPs will no longer offer certain services-
-changing people from tablets to insulin
- no aftr op checks after prostrate cancer
-no 48 hr heart monitors etc
-no spirometry tests
The list of services that will go from GPs is endless.


GPS have until 1st Oct to decide. They do not know what the reviews will consist of. They are returning to GMS contracts. This means all T2s needing to go onto insulin will have to go elsewhere. Nothing has been decided where they go. Contract changes start 1st April 2016.

So it looks likely that hospitals are likely to be inundated with t2's needing to change to insulin.

Our T1's don't really get the best services as inevitably phone calls to them go to answer machine and for me my appts are never sent. I always have to chase mine up...car parking is always dreadful (and expensive in England) so things are not going to get better at hospitals. GPs are also going to have to cut services .

These are only GPs that went to PMS contracts and enabled patients to have better facilities at their own local GPS.

However, it is going to put huge pressure on already busy hospitals...and its all inevitably postcode and GP differences.

I've got a superb consultant and nurses. Took 26!years to get two differing hospitals so good.

 

[donnellysdogs]

I also think that hospitals vary..in as much as some hospitals get heavily criticised due to certain departments failing..eg. My local hosp is critiised hugely. Yet one dept I have been to (breast unit) is superb. Fantastic consultants.. I truly mean fantastic. The whole unit is superb. Yet the diabetes clinics are awful which is why I go to a different hosp outside of my CCG area. My diabetes clinic is superb there and anything is basically on offer.. Yet the rest of the hospital is classified as needing improvements.

Sometimes its how well the patient tough actually gets in with the consultants... I always nowadays make a huge point of laughing and being lovely to them.. I remember many years ago being a grumpy beggar... And I got a grumpy comsultant back!!

 

[ButtterflyLady]

Hi Catlady,

What's the situation in your part of the wolrld (New Zealand.) with regards ro health authority funding?

It's the same - government claims there is no extra money, which pits patient against patient.