• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

NHS confirmed no funding for pump, fight on!

M

Michey

Member
Messages
16
Hi Everyone,
I posted on here a few weeks back and my Diabetic Team at Gloucester Royal have now confirmed that funding for pumps has been stopped by "Mangement".
I have the following to contact to fight my case:
INPUT, PCT, PALS Team, LOCAL MEDIA, LOCAL MP, HUMAN RIGHTS COURT, PARLIAMENT.
If you can think of any other avenues PLEASE, PLEASE let me know.
I have passed all the Nice Guidelines for the pump and my team are going to write letters and support me in trying to get one. The fact is I NEED one as my insulin requirement profile can no longer be managed by multiple injections. My consultant has confirmed there are no other options to get control having had diabetes for 22 years, since I was 7 years old.
How can it be therefore that the NHS will happily sit back and let my life continue like this when a pump would improve my quality of life? Surely its my human right to have the pump if i've exhausted all other avenues? I never asked for Diabetes - I was a 7 year old child who had a bad virus and have been managing it the best I can since. I work hard, I pay my taxes and National Insurance but I don't earn mega bucks to be able to pay £2000 for a pump and £100 a month upkeep. Even if I could afford this, I would have no help or support from my Diabetic Team due to funding and staff cuts.
I'm so upset, but more than anything angry! I'm a good person and don't deserve this, diabetes is a constant battle at the best of times, and if you don't have the correct tools, how can you ever mange it?
If you have any further help or advise, I would really appreciate it.
 
I would get Input to help you in the first instance. As I understand it your PCT cannot cap the funding for however many pumps are needed. They have a legal obligation if you meet NICE criteria and your consultant prescribes a pump for you. Even if the PCT have set a maximum number of pumps they budget for - they're not allowed to impose this as a limit.

Input will help you to challenge your PCT.

Good luck!
 
I think the problem here is that your hospital hasn't got any dsns who are specialised in pump therapy. For a pump company to issue a pump to someone through the NHS, it has to be done on the understanding that there some backup support at a hospital. So with no backup support, no pump.

Best thing for you to do is to contact INPUT and get them to tell you of a hospital near to where you live which has pump trained dsns.

My friend travelled from Suffolk to London to get her pump. London paid for the pump.
 
I have contacted INPUT and NICE and awaiting response. My hospital have a pump specialist and a team for support, they have put 135 on pump but been told to stop as their "Management" (I assume PCT) do not have the funding.
 
Good luck with INPUT then Michey. Have you phoned your PCT and questioned them about pump funding?
 
Input have come back to me stating my PCT are legally obliged to provide me with a pump as I meet all the NICE criteria/guidelines.
They are contacting my PCT on my behalf in hope it will provide more clout! However, they anticipate me having to contact my MP so I'll just have to wait and see whats said.............
 
Michey, I can't offer any advice but I just wanted to pop on to wish you luck and say I hope you get one in the end, keep on keeping on Lady and fight it all the way!
 
Michey said:
Input have come back to me stating my PCT are legally obliged to provide me with a pump as I meet all the NICE criteria/guidelines.
They are contacting my PCT on my behalf in hope it will provide more clout! However, they anticipate me having to contact my MP so I'll just have to wait and see whats said.............
Click to expand...

Although a PCT is legally obliged to fund a pump. It will only do so if an application for funding is done through a consultant or a pump trained dsn. This is regardless of whether a diabetic meets the NICE criteria. You still need that application to be done.

I wish you good luck Michey.
 
Back
Top