Had my say in the parliamentary committee

"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."

Surely having worked hard to get your BG under control, you then have to maintain that by occasional checking to make sure it hasn't risen again! Sometimes their logic beggers belief! The very first thing I was told was a looong rant about how they are checking people younger to catch it sooner and get it under control to avoid the effects diabetes can have on the various things like the eyes for example. That way people would be healthier which in turn (I presume) would lead to less drain on the health service! So! why stop prevention (the very thing they were claiming is their reasoning) once someone manages to hit their target? Surely followup care/self checking is an essential too? Also IF its all about ''a new lifestyle'' (another pointer I was given!) shouldn't that new lifestyle include self maintenance to also reduce costs on the health service? Surely prescribing strips etc is cheaper than employing numerous people to tell us we are doing good or not as the case may be?

MrsMoo said:

The very first thing I was told was a looong rant about how they are checking people younger to catch it sooner and get it under control to avoid the effects diabetes can have on the various things like the eyes for example. That way people would be healthier which in turn (I presume) would lead to less drain on the health service!

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You are not thinking like an accountant.

An accountant's priority is to minimise the expenditure for the current year and (indirectly) maximise his personal kudos. Consequential increased spending in future years is not even in the equation, and in any event, there is more than a sporting chance that it won't be the current accountant's problem.

IanS

My GP is willing to prescribe Metformin, but not testing strips and lancets - because it's cheaper! :roll: They're pushing me to go on to Metformin, but point blank refuse testing equipment, even when they can see that my levels are normally good! Lynne

It would be interesting to know how you are keeping your BG levels under control without knowing what they actually are.

IanS

Should have added - I am paying for strips and lancets, so I can keep an eye on what is happening. But both doctor and nurse refuse to accept the benefit. Just want to push pills.

I didn't appreciate how lucky I am. The DN at our surgery is very clued up on testing. When I went on oral meds fifteen years ago, I got 100 strips every scrip, and there was no argument about how often I requested them. When I went on insulin, the DN at the clinic said that wasn't enough because I needed to test a minimum of four times a day so she wrote to the Doc, and now I get 200 whenever I want them! I'm testing 10+ times a day now, and there's never any question about my heavy use.

Sounds like a few house moves are required!

Barb

As I said in another thread why the should people have to move to be provided with decent healthcare, if you are affected by this then maybe its time for someone to legally challenge their PCT. I personally would be happy to donate a small sum of money(cant give much due to the state of my finances atm) but maybe there are other ways to raise money if needed. I mean maybe if you are lucky you could find a no win no fee solicitor.

What is type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes occurs when not enough insulin is produced by the body for it to function properly, or when the body’s cells do not react to insulin. This is called insulin resistance.

Type 2 diabetes is far more common than type 1 diabetes, which occurs when the body does not produce any insulin at all. Around 95% of all people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be able to control your symptoms simply by eating a healthy diet, and monitoring your blood glucose level. However, as type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, you may eventually need to take insulin medication, usually in the form of injections.

Type 2 diabetes is often associated with obesity. Obesity-related diabetes is sometimes referred to as maturity onset diabetes because it is more common in older people.

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My BOLD , GPs should read the literature put out by their own organisation

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes-type2/Pages/Introduction.aspx?url=Pages/what-is-it.aspx

Obesity has steadily risen since the
millennium, making type II diabetes the largest health
burden in Britain today. Yet public health politics has
had to re-evaluate how far it can attempt to control
our lifestyle choices. Medical rationing has also seen
the spotlight of political contention. Since the
Herceptin trials of 2006-8 and the subsequent
development of similar treatments, both medical
rationing and protest against it have pervaded. In this
context, it has been important for doctors to reaffirm
that their contract is not just with the health of the
individual patient, but with health of populations and
society. Rationing to benefit the population has
demanded transparent and empirical assessment of
clinical need, combined with nationwide policies to
avoid post-code prescribing.

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My BOLDS , GPs should read the literature put out by their own organisation , the above is for newly qualified doctors , but GMC documents clearly say GPs should avoid post-code prescribing , They should be taking it up with their PCTs on behalf of their patients not the patient . If I couldn't get the strips prescribed I couldn't test as I couldn't afford them , BUt I would certainly ask my GP if he felt he needed retraining in light of the current GMC ethic , maybe that would sprur them on !

http://www.gmc-uk.org/l_spence.pdf_snapshot.pdf

BUt I would certainly ask my GP if he felt he needed retraining in light of the current GMC ethic , maybe that would sprur them on !

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Soundgen.

So, you are keen to move GP's then.........? :lol:

Soundgen.

So, you are keen to move GP's then.........?

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I would if I thought I would fare better elsewhere , but the problem with GPs is this , what are they ? they are the second most intelligent group of people in the Uk ( 1st is vets , you need better qualifications to be a vet ) , they do their studies dilligently either by vocation of the £ signs at the end of the learning process , they become doctors and after a year in hospital GPs , what then ? They are faced with an unending flood of people with runny noses , sore throats and minor problems which must bore them silly , I am not at all surprised that they become tired of the process , One GP at the practice I visit never even spoke a word if you had to see him , all he would do is grunt and write a prescription , NOT A WORD ! we did have one wonderful GP who took the time to show you in medical text books what the probelm was and the "cure " unfortunately she retired . I have always found that women GPs are much better than men , I put this down to Vocation rather than £s . My current GP in the practice , told me that although I was Diabetic the Neoropathy in my right foot , left foot and left arm were not connected in any way and were three different problems , one which required surgery , happily not , I have little faith in any GP but if you have a young one ie up to date and female so much the better

Thankfully, Soundgen, not all doctors are like that!! I have a very good GP who cheerfully tells me I know more about diabetes than her and is always willing to listen to me, whatever the topic.
She has my test strips on repeat and will, on occasions, even give me a one-off prescription for more if I have a good enough reason for them.
To anyone not happy with their doctor, ask for a referral to an Endocrinologist if possible, they are more expert about diabetes.

tells me I know more about diabetes than her

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The her says it all sue !

A General Practitioner is just that..some are more skilled than others in subjects that interest them. Any patient with a specific condition that they have studied up in depth will know more than the doctor.
A good GP , however, will listen and also send the patient on to a more experienced specialist doctor, a Consultant etc.
It's finding a doctor that you have confidence in that is the key. Personally ,if I go to a doctor that I am not happy with then that generally is only one visit ! :twisted:

A General Practitioner is a doctor who couldn't get a job as a hospital doctor and go on to become a consultant , until the huge salary increases recently awarded so now some people are happy to be GPs . That's not cynical it's based on my experience speaking to friends children who have become odctors

Soundgen.

I think it's very cynical and very simplistic.

Most of the GP's I have met over the years wanted to be GP's. I too have an excellent GP who knows his limitations. To 'tar everyone with the same brush' is not fair on the many excellent GP's out there who don't get the plaudits they deserve.

Your experience is obviously a bad one. Mine and I'm sure others to is far more realistic ?

Most of the GP's I have met over the years wanted to be GP's.

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Of course they would say that who want's to be second best ?

A very cynical view Soundgen. There is such a thing as job satisfaction you know.

Not for GPs they have to "treat " many people who only want a sick note and will bgecome violent if they don't get one ! and as for runny noses well .

Thanks soundgen.... Lovely to know wht you think of members of my family.

A lot of GP's are there because they like their job.
I really feel sorry for you having such a dim view of people.... I really do.