Is my hospital a one off?

[donnellysdogs]

Hi

It was suggested to me that I had a pump after my driving/hypo incident on 20th July 2010.

I did not have to see any consultant or GP to get one, just the DSN. She told me that she had bought 25 for the rest of the year (they are stacked up in her office) and that I could get one when she came back from her 2 week holiday. I literally had the suggestion and realisation within 3 weeks.

I have posted a question asking about consumables, because I have to go to the hospital to collect them, but has anybody else had the realisation of being given a pump within 3 weeks. If she hadn't been on holiday, the next day, I could have had one the following week....

How come it appears that my PCT are acting so differently to others? It really annoys me so much to read how much other people to have to fight to get a pump, when my PCT have them stacked up in their offices.......

 

[jopar]

Haven't got a glue

I had to battle for 3 years to get my pump...

But it's not a good way to be buying pumps, as you talking about approxmately £75,000 worth of equipment sat in an office, being given out willy nilly to who what seems who ever turns up to clinic :shock: Where's the assessment that the patient is going to benefit from the insulin pump therapy, what happens when the 26th patient who's really needs pump therapy but can't have one all sold out???

Patients should be assessed, and if found that a pump is necessary then they should be ordered and funded as required...

 

[donnellysdogs]

DSN said that they were only given to people that would be positive and manage the pump. She said that they weren't given to everybody willy nilly as they wanted to ensure that people who had them were successful....etc.....

I agree about the amount of money stacked up in office, but I guess she has ensured that she gets in before 'cuts' in budgets????

I was staggered that I got one so quick, and I really feel for people when reading that they have so much trouble. I am going to ask the DSN on Monday as part of general chit chat (and praising her of course) how they managed to get the PCT to purchase 25.....I will probably find out then, that they are loan ones!!!!

 

[Dustydazzler]

My hospital was amazing too. It took 4 weeks from asking to getting one. Mind you it felt like a very long 4 weeks! Everyday looking at the post hoping the letter would come! Within about 14 months of being diagnosed I was DAFNE trained and hooked up to pump. People wait a lifetime for what my hospital helped me to achieve.

 

[Vikki2]

Wow!! We're moving to South Wales...!
That's great and I'm really pleased for you and everyone who needs a pump who lives in your area. We were told in February this year that my 5 year old would have to wait at least 3 years for a pump. We had a massive battle. It was extremely stressful but with a good ending thankfully! She got her pump in August. We live in Central Scotland. It feels unfair but I guess this is the case with all sorts of medical treatment for all sorts of conditions. We did consider uprooting the whole family to get a different postcode. Thankfully we didn't have to.
By the way, have you been offered a CGM? This is the next thing I want to look into. We don't get any information from the hospital because they don't want another battle for something they have no funding for. I'm on a fact finding mission just now - before I stirr up any more trouble !!
Good luck with everything. Hope it goes well for you
x