Is the UK heading for a perfect storm of diabetes referrals?

[Amity Island]

An important point raised here is that everybody has an equal right to treatment; healthcare is not just for covid patients.

"It is a medical professional’s duty to provide the care needed for a diabetic, and this is true even during the current climate. It is a concern that whilst pressures continue to mount within the NHS, the warning signs of diabetes complications will be missed entirely, or not seen until it is too late."

Is the UK heading for a “perfect storm” of diabetes referrals?

A leading clinical negligence specialist warns the UK may be heading for a “perfect storm” of diabetes complications, due to delayed COVID-19 referrals

www.openaccessgovernment.org

 

[trophywench]

Well I dunno - most of us these days make our own risk assessment before asking our GP anyway, don't we?

I've had an itchy rash on my neck for weeks, driving me mad. Nowt done about it so far.

Pete had blood in his wee. OH YES - he rang the docs. No appointments. did he want an out of hours/out of surgery GP to ring him? Yes please, booked for same evening. Prescription for a weeks ABs Emailed straight through to pharmacy who texted him to say was ready whilst he was parked opposite our pharmacy and GP surgery waiting for me to come out and go in pharmacy to check on progress anyway, after I'd had a phlebotomy appointment.

Because the surgery and its carpark are in use as the local GP hub for Covid vaccinations, there are VERY few GP appts for 'normal' patients being undertaken.

 

[grainger]

I’ve been seen twice by the diabetes podiatry team in the last two weeks - I rang my hospital diabetes team as I was worried and I received appointments for the next day and then again the following week.

I know it depends where you live etc but my treatment has been fantastic still.

admittedly email responses aren’t as quick and my general consultations take place over the phone or via video call but I have no complaints here.

my brother however who is waiting for dialysis / kidney transplant has been informed that no transplants are taking place - now that seriously concerns me.

 

[mikeyB]

The lack of transplants may be due to reduced traffic. I don’t see motorbikes careering along the A59. The police refer to the bikers as transplant fodder, so demand may far exceed supply. Or it may be the prospect of installing a Covid ridden kidney.

Don’t forget, most organs for transplant come from deaths in hospital, and most of those are currently Covid related.

That said, there is no reason for dialysis being delayed. Those units are usually entirely separate from the main hospital, so not Covid ridden.