Difference in local authority care

[Nathan Barnes]

Looking over some other Diabetes forums it appears the level of care across different authorities can differ to quite a large extent.

We in Swindon are very lucky (although the libre is not available here as yet) with the care we can get.

We need the same level of care across the UK so we all have the same opportunities to manage our Diabetes as best as possible?

 

[trophywench]

I don't need any social care which the LAs mainly run - only healthcare, which CCGs run!

How can you cater the same for residents of the Borough of Kensington as for someone living at Land's End?

You can't is the answer! However it would be nice if it was a bit more consistent, wouldn't it? Clearly we aren't alone - we're involved with a prostate cancer charity and Southampton Uni are currently running a survey programme to compare the treatment happening in different parts of the UK where the participants are all on 'Active Surveillance' for it rather than any other treatment. Be very interesting to see what differences there are - cos every chap Pete and I speak to has a different tale to tell depending on - well! - postcode.

I don't honestly know what could be done to change it - you'd have to bring it all down to the lowest level because until you can recruit train and motivate the BEST HCPs in every single healthcare establishment in order to bring em all up to a better standard that's the only common denominator there is!

 

[Mark T]

It would be nice to have the same consistency and a minimum level across the country (but I also fear that would be quite low).

Where my parents live is retirement-ville, so you can image that there local NHS has different demands then a town with a younger average age. I'm lucky in that the city I live in is actually fairly well resourced compared to some others I've read on the forum (not that it doesn't have it's problems).

 

[mikeyB]

That postcode effect is less of a problem in Scotland because of the structure of the NHS. Best practice spreads fairly quickly, a fairly recent example being the treatment of diabetics on general medical and surgical wards. The healthcare and social care are part of the same budget. Far from perfect, mind, but that’s to do with UK government cutbacks, which are equally evident in England. God only knows what will happen with Jeremy Hunt in charge of both.