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DAFNE

staceyp

Newbie
Heya, could anyone tell me how I could get on to a DAFNE course please as my Doctor and Diabetes team won’t refer me (doc tells me it’s down to my Diabetes team and my diabetes team don’t do the DAFNE course as they do their own (it’s called ‘Sweet One’) BUT they don’t run the course in the school holidays and my school (I’m a teacher at a secondary school) will deduct 80% of my wage for the week if I have the 4 days off to do the course! And I cannot afford to lose this much income. I’m just desperate and not feeling supported anywhere at the moment. Please help. Thank you in advance.
 
Hi @EllieM. Thank you so much. My Dietitian told me about Bertie and I have had a look but I didn’t really find that it was helpful to me. I don’t know if that’s because I find it really difficult to focus and absorb large pieces of information online (it’s like the writing moves around and I skip parts out and when I realise I’ve skipped them, I go back and then I lose where I am and get muddled and frustrated and I don’t remember the info - it’s really strange but I can’t explain it better than that. I’m so sorry). Do you know if there are ANY courses run in the school holidays or if there’s any advice on how to change the rules around Diabetic education courses and time off work? Could my doctor possibly sign me off even do you know? The only other thing I could do is just book onto the course and call in sick on the days I’m doing it (I get fully paid sickness) but I REALLY don’t want to be dishonest.
 
Hi @staceyp
Hopefully some others will be able to answer your questions about time off for DAFNE (I left the UK in 1999 and have never been on the course though it sounds very useful). I would have hoped that you would have been allowed to have the time off you need for a course that is needed for your health? Can your union help?

Good luck.
 
@staceyp . Sorry to hear your struggles to get on a DAFNE course.
Firstly, if your CCG doesn’t run DAFNE then it’s going to be difficult unless you register with an area than runs DAFNE. Not sure if this would be an option.
Secondly. If you was able to get booked onto a DAFNE course you may well find they only run on certain weeks throughout the year. When I did a DAFNE course there was 4 x 1 week courses throughout one year and a course which was spread over 5 weeks, one day each week. Not sure you’d find the courses married upto school holidays.
Finally, if you was to get booked on a course whether it be DAFNE or Sweet One you should be able to get a letter explaining the importance of attending the course and the benefits to you and your employer.
Losing 80% of your wages is bad. Losing your life to diabetic complications is far , far badder
 
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