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Had my say in the parliamentary committee

hanadr

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Yesterday, I attended the all party parliamentary committee for diabetes. In attendance among others was Anne Keen MP under-secretary at the Health ministry and a former nurse. Discussion got quite lively , after the election of officers of the committee was completed.
The biggest topic was the postcode lottery on test strip prescribing. I made my point about how angry I felt when I saw a stall in the town centre offering "Free Stop Smoking help". ince smokers all started voluntarily . I didn't volunteer for T2 and I never led the lifestyle that is often blamed for it. The Under-secretary said she understood my anger.
The meeting was asked how many people had bought their own equipment. My hand went up.
the under secretary said that it was disgraceful that people were in my position. She assured us that something will be done.
There was one other person from my PCT area and he backed me up. However, there was someone from another area, who talked about a woman he'd met who complained that her fingers were sore from all the testing and that since she was T2 on diet control, he'd told her it wasn't necessary to test so often. He can't have heard of "eat to your meter"
On a happy note: for those that remember Tubolard. Tubs was there, well about 60% of Tubs was there. there's so much less of him.( 10 stone less!!!!! 8) ) He was looking good. I was glad of his escort through the underground stations, back to Paddington. I felt more secure with a friendly gentleman around on those millions of stairs. It was terrific to see part of him again after a long time.
Hana
 
Thank you for that ...I'm going to ask my 'nurse' ~(for the 3rd time) for strips this friday and I will have the ammunition to insist if she gives me any grief - I'll let you know if I am given a prescription at long last.
 
Well done Hannah , you are an absolute star ! It is good to know that T2's have a voice in Parliament . :D :D :D
 
I agree well done! I can't even get a meter even though the nurse bragged of having many on the shelf! Apparently I will only stress myself!
 
Well done Hanna
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But the cynic in me wonders if anything will actually change :cry:
 
MrsMoo said:
I agree well done! I can't even get a meter even though the nurse bragged of having many on the shelf! Apparently I will only stress myself!

Is that an argument that they use for anybody or just for you? In any case it has to be one of the most pathetic arguments going.

There is no way, I would have got my BG under control without knowing what is going on from day to day. In fact my BG this morning (fasting) was 4.4 so my meter tells me that I am overdoing it a bit, so I now know that I can up the potato consumption a tad. I need to up something as I have lost one and half stone in just four weeks (and feel a heck of a lot better for it - and, so I am told, look a lot better for it). I'm scheduled to disappear entirely somewhere around April though. :lol:

Not knowing would stress me out but this is probably down to my background as an engineer.

IanS
 
Great work Hana! :D
Always a good time to make sure our MP's know what's bothering us, with an election on the horizon. Spare a thought for all those homeless ducks should they be denied expense account subsidised housing they deserve. :wink:

fergus
 
Sadly Ian its quite a common one used for Type2 diabetes...

It is a bit of tar brushing though, yes there will be a certain people who would 'stress' themselves given a meter more so if they aren't provided with the support, training and knwoledge so they know how to use the meter correctly and how to use the data it provides in a pro-active manner...

But it's not just whether an individual has a meter and test strips provided on the NHS it becomes an expensive and useless system if the individual doesn't recieve full support and training at there level of understanding and pace of learning new ways to using this piece of equipment in an pro-active manner...

When you think about it, 'stress' is caused because you may know something, but you don't know what to do about it or that you think that you can't do anything about and then the phrase 'ignorance is bliss' comes into play..
 
I was diagnosed in July , on my first visit to the diabetic clinic ( in my GP's surgery ) I asked for a testing kit which they gave me together with 25 strips and have since had two repeat prescriptions for 50 strips , this implies they are freely available on the NHS so if your GP won't prescribe surely it's him trying to keep his prescription levels low not the NHS provision ? You should report your GP to the NHS , is that possible ? shop him to the local newspapers ?
 
fergus said:
Great work Hana! :D
Always a good time to make sure our MP's know what's bothering us, with an election on the horizon. Spare a thought for all those homeless ducks should they be denied expense account subsidised housing they deserve. :wink:

fergus

Look after the ducks or else :twisted:
 

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''Is that an argument that they use for anybody or just for you? In any case it has to be one of the most pathetic arguments going.''

I agree Ian I am hoping to win a machine and then I will BUY the strips if need be! I have a need to know so that I can find out if I need to adjust my diet to 'more' OR 'less' which cant be done on the basis of getting a blood test 'if and when' as at present! I haven't even been told when to go for another blood test now which seems odd to me considering that its the only way they seem to be using to check my progress or lack of. I have an appointment to see the nurse again in November (last time being September) but she doesn't check my blood just talks down to me and makes me feel two feet high and thee years old!Good thing I have the hide of an elephant. Funny thing is my husband has a machine to test his INR (he takes warfarin) which we bought because he was working away from home on weekdays at one point and he just popped along and requested the strips and got them.Then arrangements were made with ONE person who rings him once every two weeks for the result and advises him of any actions to be taken. No-one said he shouldn't test himself as he would stress himself doing so! and since we cope admirably with that whats the difference for me?

Surely it saves the health service money too if people can test themselves instead of taking an appointment, seeing a human being (in my case doctor as nurses cant get blood out of me!), sending off the sample to nearest local path lab via some important person given the responsibility in a vehicle paid for by the health service no doubt , getting it tested by another human being, sending back the information to my doctor who then spends time reading information sent back, then asks the receptionist to ring me to tell me its all ok OR i need to come see the doctor?....or is all that needed to justify some unknown reason perhaps. Another reason for wanting to test myself is that at least then I would know what my level is! All I know is I was 7.10 to start with and told that was VERY high is that any more worrying/stressful for people to be told than to test ones self ?

....Frustrated Type 2 wanting to educate herself in the interests of her own health! Its MY body not theirs!

End of rant!
 
Soundgen said:
I was diagnosed in July , on my first visit to the diabetic clinic ( in my GP's surgery ) I asked for a testing kit which they gave me together with 25 strips and have since had two repeat prescriptions for 50 strips , this implies they are freely available on the NHS so if your GP won't prescribe surely it's him trying to keep his prescription levels low not the NHS provision ? You should report your GP to the NHS , is that possible ? shop him to the local newspapers ?

2 repeat prescriptions since July is hardly freely available, I'm afraid. I test 5-8 times a day. I had to have a long conversation with my GP to pursuade him to give me my 1 garunteed pot a month.

MrsMoo, you don't need a prescription to get a machine. The manufacturers are falling over themselves to give them away. They make the money on the strips, which is why they give you everything you need to keep the machine running for free, if you remain in contact with the Customer Services.

Mine was a freebie from Roche Customer Services. Ring around the manufacturers, you will get one for free. Pay for as little as possible, If you buy one, get the VAT taken off anything you do buy, you need to ask at the checkout.

My GP would not give me a meter, I now have 2, one from Roche (my main meter) and a the Contour that I "won" - it isn't a real competition, they want to sell you strips. He is, however, providing me with a prescription for test strips, I get 1 pot a month. I use far more than that.
 
2 repeat prescriptions since July is hardly freely available, I'm afraid. I test 5-8 times a day. I had to have a long conversation with my GP to pursuade him to give me my 1 garunteed pot a month.

I appreciate that but I thought that Type 2s weren't being given meters or strips at all ?
 
Soundgen said:
2 repeat prescriptions since July is hardly freely available, I'm afraid. I test 5-8 times a day. I had to have a long conversation with my GP to pursuade him to give me my 1 garunteed pot a month.

I appreciate that but I thought that Type 2s weren't being given meters or strips at all ?
Many aren't but some are! It depends on the PCT and the GP!

It's what is called the NHS Postcode Lottery!
 
Spiral said:
He is, however, providing me with a prescription for test strips, I get 1 pot a month. I use far more than that.

Last prescription I got was for 150 strips. My practice requested that I test 3 times a day. It's worked well.

IanS
 
Soundgen said:
I appreciate that but I thought that Type 2s weren't being given meters or strips at all ?

It all depends on where you live - hence the references to postcode lottery. By rights you should be prescribed the test strips and lancets that you need (the meters are given away).

Unfortunately, the PCTs are allowed to pick and chose what healthcare they want to pay for and what they don't. I am lucky in that my GP is happy to prescribe the test strips and lancets that I need, but I'm willing to bet that once I have demonstrated that my BG is under control, the amount prescribed will be cut.

From what I have read here, the degree to which test strips are prescribed varies from generous, through downright mean, to not at all.

IanS
 
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