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Dilemma Over The Cgm Petition

GBS_82_

Well-Known Member
Messages
70
Location
Croydon, London
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi everyone

Hope you're all well and in range (I'm having one of those weeks -can't seem to get under the magic 7).

As must of you will know there's a petition doing the rounds (I think being pushed by the JDRF) asking the NHS to make CGM available for type 1s on the NHS. I'm torn over whether to sign it.

On the one hand, I think it will be wonderful (in fact, my DSN is sorting me out with a trial so I'll know soon enough) and friends speak highly of it. And at a running cost of about £200 a month I couldn't currently afford it.

HOWEVER, at the end of the day I do manage without it and (granted, I am lucky) my hbA1cs are pretty good. The reason I am reluctant to sign the petition is that I know the NHS has very limited resources and the truth is I don't know enough about what is available to people with other illnesses and conditions. The NHS should not make policy as a result of public pressure. I would hate it if I got something which was very, very helpful (but not strictly necessary) and someone else missed out.

I would really appreciate people's wisdom on this.

Gareth x
 
I personally dont think its a question about whether it should be given on the NHS, because without a doubt, it is invaluable and it should be, but only if used correctly, and there in lies the problem. If it was given to me 10 yeara ago, i would not have used it correctly and for me, it would have been wasted money.
The qiestion for me is how to ensure the NHS can maximise the value, in a system that i feel wastes a terrible amount of money. If that question is answered it would make arguing for the petition infinitely easier.
 
Something to be aware of is that the petition (the one I have seen at any rate) is to petition parliament.

The thing with this is that parliament have ZERO say over NHS treatments or what NICE recommends. These recommendations are based on clinical evidence and outcomes, which is something many of the CGM manufacturers are actively working on right now (since they want the sales).

No I am not saying that I do not want CGM, anecdotally when I have been using Libre is have been brilliant and I wish I could do that all the time. A concern if we do get the government to get involved is that it could just further muddy the water. Now I know that the PM is T1 which is cool and all but I would be more likely to sign a petition asking the government to increase NHS funding that way they can actually pay for CGMs and pumps when the clinical evidence goes to NICE about how much of an impact it makes.

/A
 
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