DUK Survey results.

[cherrypie]

This survey is ongoing. The results so far show very clearly that there is a lack of uniform care.
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/About_us/Our_Views/15-healthcare-essentials/Care-survey-results/
Even some of the essential checks are missing for a percentage of people.

 

[AlisonM]

Wow, some of those figures are scary! From what I can see the diagnostics are OK, but help in understanding the condition, training aimed at mananging it and emotional support are seriously lacking. Am I the only one who can see that education is key to coping with any form of Diabetes and would save the NHS a fortune in the long run?

 

[Caroline]

It is scary. Education is essential for our health. A couple of courses I've seen that have needed a doctor to say yes do this I couldn't do as my GP is a twit and wont send anyone on courses. He told me I was more than capeable of sorting things out for myself and eduction was a waste of time...

 

[trophywench]

AlisonM - that was a rhetorical question? LOL I'd say you can be certain the 7,000 odd who took the survey agree with you for starters!

But it's a drop in the ocean isn't it? Only 7k people ...... am pretty disheartened by that, frankly.

Caroline, that GP is a dinosaur and blind. I'd be changing to a different one if I were you ......

 

[cherrypie]

To be fair, this is an ongoing survey which means that the results may get worse or better.
Of the people who did answer, the results were surprising in that so many people had not been given proper care. Denying pregnant mothers the care that is needed when they are diabetic is a big no no in my book.

 

[Dizzydi]

I think at lot of this is down to the knowledge of your healthcare team i.e GP's who first diagnose people and then there is no proper follow up or referral to see a consultant etc - Mine have been fantastic, but my mother and grandmothers has been disgraceful. I do also believe that people have to take the bull by the horn and insist on seeing consultants and demand better care when it is not offered, cause as we all know sometimes those dam gp's wont do anything unless pushed.

 

[FM001]

Never had my legs checked even though my feet are checked every 12 months nor have I been offered any emotional support unless this is only offered to patients who ask for help or the consultant suspects there's a problem.

 

[cherrypie]

I think at lot of this is down to the knowledge of your healthcare team i.e GP's who first diagnose people and then there is no proper follow up or referral to see a consultant etc - Mine have been fantastic, but my mother and grandmothers has been disgraceful. I do also believe that people have to take the bull by the horn and insist on seeing consultants and demand better care when it is not offered, cause as we all know sometimes those dam gp's wont do anything unless pushed.

I would agree with the above but where does that leave the newly diagnosed who do not know what their care should consist of? Newly diagnosed come here having been given very little in the way of support or education.
Forums are invaluable for spreading the word and we have all taken the bull by the horns on ocassions but not all diabetics use forums and many still "doff their hat" to their G.P.

 

[Caroline]

AlisonM - that was a rhetorical question? LOL I'd say you can be certain the 7,000 odd who took the survey agree with you for starters!

But it's a drop in the ocean isn't it? Only 7k people ...... am pretty disheartened by that, frankly.

Caroline, that GP is a dinosaur and blind. I'd be changing to a different one if I were you ......

I'd love to change GPs, but the next nearest doctor is a bus ride away and he has a reputation, not many people near us want his ex patients...

 

[AlisonM]

In general the folk on here are aware and determined to do what they can for themselves but many, if not most, folk are willing to trust their doctors, or possibly too scared/depressed/ill and/or apathetic to fight for what they need.

A friend of mine has a mother with T2 and she (mum) flatly refuses to change anything about her lifestyle (her diet is healthy for a normal person, not a diabetic) and won't accept that the meds can't do it all. She doesn't want to know. Her doctor doesn't bother with her and she only has her HbA done once a year then doc increases the dosages again.

Another believes doctor knows best and can't understand why her Diabetes is so poorly controlled. She doesn't have access to education, no test strips even in the short term so she can learn how food affects her. Nothing. She has an HbA done twice a year and her toes tickled, no eye tests and no other support.

These two aren't at all unusual examples. And I've tried, gently, to get them moving to no avail. I bet we all know quite a few who fit these models too. A combination of apathy and fear on the part of the Diabetic and penny-pinching inertia on the NHS side is, in my opinion the root cause of the rise in the cost of treating this condition.

I know, I'm preaching to the converted.

 

[trophywench]

And of course you can't actually see the complications setting in, can you? I mean if you cut your finger peeling carrots and 2 days later the veins in your arm go bright dark red, you'd be straight down the surgery. (or A&E)

But you can't see the back of your eyes or your kidneys etc, can you? Ergo you must still be OK. (Not) And when it does happen that they say you've got whatever I bet people say Oh - if only I'd known!

Aaaaargghh

 

[Dizzydi]

I would agree with the above but where does that leave the newly diagnosed who do not know what their care should consist of? Newly diagnosed come here having been given very little in the way of support or education.
Forums are invaluable for spreading the word and we have all taken the bull by the horns on ocassions but not all diabetics use forums and many still "doff their hat" to their G.P.

Maybe there should be a campaign to re educate GP's which means that ALL newly diagnosed diabetics are referred to consultant / specialist and a dietitian straight away regardless of were they live etc not all surgery's have good diabetic Dr's - & the flaming Government should stop dam well penny pinching so that everyone has access to everything they need.

Also tho I think a lot of diabetics - need re educating as well. My mum and Gran where diagnosed 16 and 17 years ago and the help and education they received has changed since my diagnosis 3 1/2 years ago. Both my mum and Gran have adopted the head in sand syndrome - mum has re assessed herself and recently sought help, started exercising etc, but it took fatty deposits in her liver to make her do this, were as with Gran if she lives much past Christmas I will be surprised (I dont mean to sound cold about this, but when you have been fighting to help for a number of years and to no avail etc - and it is my way of preparing myself for the call to say she has passed away), she has not done anything to help herself and refused my help.

 

[trophywench]

Maybe there should be a campaign to re educate GP's which means that ALL newly diagnosed diabetics are referred to consultant / specialist and a dietitian straight away regardless of were they live etc not all surgery's have good diabetic Dr's - & the flaming Government should stop dam well penny pinching so that everyone has access to everything they need.

You gotta be joking Di ! There are nowhere NEAR enough Diabetes consultants as it is so there's a 6 month wait anyway at our clinic. It took my poor consultant nearly 3 years to replace his Houseman. His went on Maternity leave and never came back. They knew it was going to happen but of course officially, she kept her options open so they said he couldn't recruit. When he could, he said it appeared that nobody wanted to come and work in such a busy department. They were all appalled when they saw the caseload, the problems, the waiting lists ....... without the ward rounds (teaching hospital with a 'diabetic complications' ward, let alone all the diabetics coming in for an appendectomy of something) and the students .....

Don't get me wrong, it would be lovely. But it ain't gonna happen - not in my lifetime anyway .....

 

[Blythespirit]

It certainly does make scary reading but I can't say I'm suprised by the results so far. We only have to read people's comments on here to see that a lot of people don't get the basic care thay need. Sadly as our numbers increase and the NHS budget decreases I can only see it getting worse. XXXXX