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Moving back to the UK

pegletbee

pegletbee

Active Member
Messages
28
Type of diabetes
LADA
Hello, I've only just discovered this forum so this is my first post. Please excuse any silly mistakes.

I've been living in the Netherlands for 17 years, been diabetic (LADA) for 9 years. Always had very high HBA1C - generally around 9 - and wildly unstable blood glucose, and was finally persuaded to try a pump. Pump therapy is more widespread here than in the UK, actively encouraged and apparently easier to get funded.
I got the last Cozmo in the Netherlands about a month ago. They don't have the Animas here yet or I'd have opted for that.
I'm quite amazed at how well the therapy is working for me, and how quickly I'm getting used to using it. I've never had such stable sugars, and so far no problems.
Thing is, I'm planning to move back to the UK next spring. I've spoken to the diabetic nurse at my local health practice in the UK and she has asked up the line as to whether I can get funding. Her initial enquiries were positive, but when I rang the clinic at Newcastle - which is where I'll have to go - they didn't sound either very welcoming or enthusiastic.
My Cozmo doesn't belong to me, but remains the property of my health insurer and I don't know yet if I'll be able to bring it with me when I move. As it's working so well I'd hate to have to stop the therapy and go back to injections while I 'fight' for funding.
Does anybody live in the catchment area for the Newcastle on Tyne clinic and have any idea how much of a struggle getting funding there is likely to be? I'd be very grateful for any tips or advice.

Cheers. Peggy
 
Hey peggy. Welcome babe. I'm sure somebody will help you out in a bit. It's early for some of thes peeps.

D.
 
Has the Newcastle clinic been chosen because it's nearest, or because they're good with pumps? Under new NHS rules you're supposed to have a choice of hospital. You don't have to attend the nearest hospital - choose somewhere else if more appropriate for your needs. More travelling maybe, but hopefully you won't need to go very often and at least you can get care from people who really know about pumps, not someone local who's never seen a pump before.

Similarly if I moved I'd insist on attending a hospital which offered DAFNE, not somewhere I'd get a hard time for varying my carb intake.

Specialists usually get to know each other at conferences etc, maybe your current consultant knows somebody here.

Sadly the choice doesn't apply to the PCT - you're stuck with the one where you live :(
 
Thanks everyone,
I think Newcastle is the only place within the area that does have a clinic working with pumps, and mention has been made of Dafne, but I think that was at Hexham. (Hexham has a good name but they don't work with pumps there).
I have written to Input, but no reply yet.
Thank you all for your good wishes and help.
Peg
 
Hi Peggy,

I am also a Brit in the Netherlands though I am leaving in 2 weeks time to move to Bangladesh! Don't ask!

I got my pump through my insurer CZ after my Diabetic verpleegster recommended me for it. They have told me that I can take the pump with me as they have covered the majority of the costs for it and I have paid a small amount towards it - that €155 limit the Dutch government made up recently.

I just tol d my docs in the UK that I have the pump and that I wanted to stay on it. They ahve said since I am now established on the pump that they wouldn't take me off it though they never mentioned anything about funding.

Good luck with your move!

Ally x
 
Hi Ally
Thanks for that information. From the sound of it I should be able to get funding but it may be a while before all the red-tape is neatly bundled up etc.
Hope all is going well with your move. I haven't been on the forum for a while so I suspect you're already there! How exciting.
All the best.
Peggy
 
Re: Moving back to the UK: update

Just an update on my progress. I was home in the UK in September, and went to my GP to explain I'd be back permanently next year and ask for a referral to the Newcastle clinic in advance of my move so that I can hopefully ensure continuity of funding/care. He duly wrote off and I've got my appointment ... for January 21st! Only 4 months wait then. That's actually fine by me as that's when I'm back again anyway, but it wouldn't be so fine if I was already living there and faced with the alternatives of self-funding for four months plus or returning to an injecting regime with a hba1c of over 10.
I await my reception at Newcastle with interest. Somehow I don't get the feeling they're going to be overjoyed to have me. I hope I'm wrong.
 
I have also live abroad for the last 20 years (USA) and use a Mini Med Paradigm. I will be moving back to Darlington once my house sells in the states. I am having a hard time finding a place close by to contact. If you have any tips I would greatly appreciate it. I would also probably end up going by train from Darlington to Newcastle if that is the best place for Pump Therapy in the area.
Good Luck with your move.
Justine
 
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