How long can i expect to wait for pump approval?

[olliej96]

Hi all! new here, but not new to type 1.

I had an appointment with my endo just over 2 months ago now where I discussed pumping with her and expressed that I feel I could benefit from one. (Type 1 for 13 years, only ever MDI's) - my numbers are fairly good and I count carbs (did a KAT1E course) but I do more injections throughout the day than average I suppose, and these are smaller units I deliver.

Anyway back to the point, she wrote in the follow up letter that although she doesn't see any reason as to why I should be on a pump, because I can count carbs well and have completed the KAT1E course, she has reffered me to the pump-friendly team in hopes they take me in to consideration. So I guess I'm looking for experiences on how long it can be before I can expect an approval call/letter/email, or if im notified of a denial at all? I'm in the loop (no pun) with NICE, ABCD, JDRF and also those on twitter such as the lovely man himself, Professor Partha Kar.

Any info is greatly appreciated. Cheers!

UPDATE: I've finally managed to get in contact with the secretary for my consultant. I spoke with her and she said that she couldn't see my first referral, but has now sent another referral to the pump clinic (which is at a different site) and I should hear back within 2 weeks.. hopefully. She's also said she'll keep chasing it up for me and will keep me updated. I'm hoping this is the contact i've needed to actually help move things along!

 

[Inka]

Hi @olliej96 🙂 I think it depends on your clinic. I’ve had my pump 18 years now, but once I was approved, it took 2 or so months.

 

[olliej96]

Hi @olliej96 🙂 I think it depends on your clinic. I’ve had my pump 18 years now, but once I was approved, it took 2 or so months.

Thanks for the response!

That's good to know. I don't suppose you can remember how long it took from the referral to approval? I'm a little worried that If im not successful in being approved, that I won't be contacted (in which that could be time to take my case further)

 

[helli]

@olliej96 approval to pump only took a month for me but
- this was 6 years ago and, whilst the NHS can be slow over some things, this is the kind of thing that changes
- this was the time it took at my CCG and all CCGs have different processes
- one reason why my case took little time was that there was a pump start session coming up. Clinics try to start a group of people together and only run this a few times a year. If I had missed my pump start, I think the next one was 3 or 4 months later.

I would recommend getting in touch with your clinic/DSN as ask them what to expect. Only they know what their schedule looks like and what their process is. Unfortunately, someone's experience from 6 years ago in a different part of the country is pretty irrelevant.

 

[olliej96]

@olliej96 approval to pump only took a month for me but
- this was 6 years ago and, whilst the NHS can be slow over some things, this is the kind of thing that changes
- this was the time it took at my CCG and all CCGs have different processes
- one reason why my case took little time was that there was a pump start session coming up. Clinics try to start a group of people together and only run this a few times a year. If I had missed my pump start, I think the next one was 3 or 4 months later.

I would recommend getting in touch with your clinic/DSN as ask them what to expect. Only they know what their schedule looks like and what their process is. Unfortunately, someone's experience from 6 years ago in a different part of the country is pretty irrelevant.

Thanks for the reply, I guess there is a few different processes to factor in that need to to be set in motion, My clinic/specialist is usually quite hard to reach, so I think I'll try and contact my DSN and ask whether or not they've got any update on the referral.

 

[Bloden]

Hi @olliej96. 🙂

I got the go-ahead from my consultant a year ago (Sept 2021). I wasn't as well-qualified as you LOL, so had to jump thru all the carb-counting course hoops. Once I'd done all the necessary courses (by March this year), I waited for a month for the pump clinic to get in touch. They didn't contact me (very busy, short-staffed), so I emailed them, and that got the ball rolling. My pump start was June 28, 2022.
As others have noted, every area in the UK is different.
Good luck! Do you know which pump you want yet?

 

[helli]

Do you know which pump you want yet?

Before contemplating which pump you want, I strongly recommend finding out what pumps are available. There is no point setting your heart on something and then find out, as in my CCG, there is only one pump on offer.

 

[olliej96]

Hi @olliej96. 🙂

I got the go-ahead from my consultant a year ago (Sept 2021). I wasn't as well-qualified as you LOL, so had to jump thru all the carb-counting course hoops. Once I'd done all the necessary courses (by March this year), I waited for a month for the pump clinic to get in touch. They didn't contact me (very busy, short-staffed), so I emailed them, and that got the ball rolling. My pump start was June 28, 2022.
As others have noted, every area in the UK is different.
Good luck! Do you know which pump you want yet?

Hey!

if there's one things us type 1's know.. it's the unnescessary hoops we have to leap through to get what we need. Was part of your approval terms having to do the carb counting course? I actually did mine back when the Libre's were first being prescribed and my consultant wanted me to do it first (SO glad I did for the extra control) the pump team here is 40 mins away at a different clinic, so I could send an email their way too.

If i'm accepted, i'm very much swaying toward T-slim X2, i'vjumped the gun and done extensive research on a fair few pumps, and this appeals to me the most. It's also available at the pump clinic here!

 

[olliej96]

Before contemplating which pump you want, I strongly recommend finding out what pumps are available. There is no point setting your heart on something and then find out, as in my CCG, there is only one pump on offer.

Thankfully the list is fairly big here with about 5 pumps available, and they've got the T-slim X2 which is the pump that i'd go for.

 

[Inka]

Thanks for the response!

That's good to know. I don't suppose you can remember how long it took from the referral to approval? I'm a little worried that If im not successful in being approved, that I won't be contacted (in which that could be time to take my case further)

I don’t remember exactly but I had to be approved for funding by a panel. I failed the first time but there was an appeal and I was then approved for a pump. Then 2 or so months later I got it.

 

[PhoebeC]

I have been wondering the same myself. My appointment with the consultant is 20th October, I want to know after this how long it will be, but we will just have to wait and see.

I was hoping I would have time before my holiday in December to get to grips with a pump, but now I don't mind if it is after.

 

[olliej96]

I have been wondering the same myself. My appointment with the consultant is 20th October, I want to know after this how long it will be, but we will just have to wait and see.

I was hoping I would have time before my holiday in December to get to grips with a pump, but now I don't mind if it is after.

Ahh that's good to hear you're in a similar boat.

It seems time can vary depending on location with approval time and being seen/choosing pump. I'd say to give it at least a couple of months before taking action, start by phoning your DSN/Consultant's secretary and ask for any updates when you feel is appropriate.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Anyway back to the point, she wrote in the follow up letter that although she doesn't see any reason as to why I should be on a pump, because I can count carbs well and have completed the KAT1E course, she has reffered me to the pump-friendly team in hopes they take me in to consideration. So I guess I'm looking for experiences on how long it can be before I can expect an approval call/letter/email, or if im notified of a denial at all? I'm in the loop (no pun) with NICE, ABCD, JDRF and also those on twitter such as the lovely man himself, Professor Partha Kar.

Simple solution to find your answer is ring the team and ask when your apt is 🙂

 

[olliej96]

Simple solution to find your answer is ring the team and ask when your apt is 🙂

Been sent on a bit of a roundabout, contacted the clinic (who are pump friendly) they said to contact my consultant at my hospital (who isn't pump friendly) to find out, I'm getting no luck calling them, and the assistant(?) for the DSN says she wont have that kind of information, the communication seems to have fallen off haha

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Been sent on a bit of a roundabout, contacted the clinic (who are pump friendly) they said to contact my consultant at my hospital (who isn't pump friendly) to find out, I'm getting no luck calling them, and the assistant(?) for the DSN says she wont have that kind of information, the communication seems to have fallen off haha

Can you not contact the consultants sectary?

 

[olliej96]

Can you not contact the consultants sectary?

That's who i've been trying to contact yeah. I've noticed that it's tricky to even get through to the secretary with stuff in the past unrelated to this. I've left voicemails before but I don't feel like they listen to them and just rely on you constantly trying again

 

[helli]

Have you tried email? Email addresses are available online for my consultant and my DSN gave me hers years ago.
They are both responsive. The advantage of an email is that they can respond when convenient for them rather than being interrupted by a phone call.

 

[olliej96]

Have you tried email? Email addresses are available online for my consultant and my DSN gave me hers years ago.
They are both responsive. The advantage of an email is that they can respond when convenient for them rather than being interrupted by a phone call.

I've checked online, and we've only got mobile numbers/extensions for the 3 hospitals that are around my area. That's clinic numbers/DSN numbers, but no email addresses.

 

[Bloden]

Was part of your approval terms having to do the carb counting course?

Yep. 🙂 I'd already been carb counting for 13 years but had no proof of my abilities - it was all very useful tho, and I learned some new things.

If you get the tslim, will you be looping?

 

[olliej96]

Yep. 🙂 I'd already been carb counting for 13 years but had no proof of my abilities - it was all very useful tho, and I learned some new things.

If you get the tslim, will you be looping?

You're very experienced then!

Oh you bet I will be!