New government spending review and diabetes

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Ikey the tinker

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Type 1
Does anyone reckon they'll scrap the free prescriptions?

I picked up 80 quids worth of drugs on Friday, if they make me pay I'll be bankrupt!
 
Ikey the tinker said:
Does anyone reckon they'll scrap the free prescriptions?

I picked up 80 quids worth of drugs on Friday, if they make me pay I'll be bankrupt!
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Just heard from my DSN that my PCT (South Birmingham) is about to undergo huge budget cuts, which means I have no chance of getting a pump. Wonderful.
 
I know that they put on hold plans to extend the free prescriptions to other long term conditions like asthma. I thought the NHS and Education were supposed to be 'ring-fenced', but I've been hearing left right and centre about cuts to nursing and admin staff, minor operations etc., so it is worrying.

Sorry to hear the news about the pump Shiv. It's so short-sighted though. Agreed a pump and consumables are more expensive but if it gives you a better, more productive life with fewer or no complications then that can only benefit the economy as a whole, more than balancing out the extra costs.:(
 
Northerner said:
I thought the NHS and Education were supposed to be 'ring-fenced', but I've been hearing left right and centre about cuts to nursing and admin staff, minor operations etc., so it is worrying.
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Yeah, in my DSN's words there will be a huge 'culling' of staff at Selly Oak Hospital when the budget comes in. So ringfenced or not, sounds like the NHS is going to feel the pinch.
 
Ikey the tinker said:
Does anyone reckon they'll scrap the free prescriptions?

I picked up 80 quids worth of drugs on Friday, if they make me pay I'll be bankrupt!
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I sure hope not because I wouldn't be able to pay for all that I use :(
 
I'll sue them if they do for putting my life in danger. I can't possibly afford all the drugs I'm on, especially as it looks like there may be benefit cuts as well. There would be plenty of cash available if we stopped fighting illegal wars for unjustifiable reasons. This is what I feared would happen if the tories got in, they'll hit all the 'soft' targets first, the ones they think can't fight back.
 
SacredHeart said:
NHS has been ringfenced, thankfully
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The money may be ringfenced, but how they spend it is not.

Having said that, I'd be gobsmacked if they do anything which causes people, with chronic diseases and who are not well off, to pay for their prescriptions!
 
I hope they don't scrap free prescriptions. I am not too badly off, but it will affect those least able to pay the most. I can see everyone needing expensive medical insurance just to be able to see a doctor.
 
shiv said:
Yeah, in my DSN's words there will be a huge 'culling' of staff at Selly Oak Hospital when the budget comes in. So ringfenced or not, sounds like the NHS is going to feel the pinch.
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shiv have you been refused a pump ? or am i getting confused ?:confused: wait till you hear whats going to happen to the benefits system ! my hubby was on a course last week and well .....slave labour and workhouse come to mind ! 😱 good ole Victorian family values are coming back !😱
 
Andy HB said:
The money may be ringfenced, but how they spend it is not.

Having said that, I'd be gobsmacked if they do anything which causes people, with chronic diseases and who are not well off, to pay for their prescriptions!
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It's the scenario I read on US forums, where people have either no insurance, or have run out, and have to buy insulin online from Canada, or cheap mixed insulins from Walmart of all places! Or, if they have no money, beg at A&E. I suppose the one thing in our favour is that we are a massive lobby group, at over 2 million sufferers. I wouldn't be surprised to see more of the things like the meter change that was posted about yesterday.
 
AlisonM said:
I'll sue them if they do for putting my life in danger. I can't possibly afford all the drugs I'm on, especially as it looks like there may be benefit cuts as well. There would be plenty of cash available if we stopped fighting illegal wars for unjustifiable reasons. This is what I feared would happen if the tories got in, they'll hit all the 'soft' targets first, the ones they think can't fight back.
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Unfortunately, as a nation, we have been spending way beyond our means for way too long. Someone, somewhere is going to have to suffer for the consequences (and that's going to be most of us I'm afraid).

Thankfully, with a coalition government, rather than just a true blue tory one, the pain should be spread around a bit more and not so much against the 'soft' targets. But I'll wait and see what they finally get up to! 🙄

Andy
 
Northerner said:
It's the scenario I read on US forums, where people have either no insurance, or have run out, and have to buy insulin online from Canada, or cheap mixed insulins from Walmart of all places! Or, if they have no money, beg at A&E. I suppose the one thing in our favour is that we are a massive lobby group, at over 2 million sufferers. I wouldn't be surprised to see more of the things like the meter change that was posted about yesterday.
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Yes. I'm soooo pleased that we have semi-commy pinko socialist tendencies in this country! :D
 
am64 said:
shiv have you been refused a pump ? or am i getting confused ?:confused:
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Pretty much. The DSN said right now there isn't much point in going for a pump assessment because I don't meet the guidelines, which are now treated as gospel. She thinks it would benefit me psychologically (I expressed my tiredness and frustration at having done over 20,000 injections and now facing even more). Apparently if I'd gone for a pump 2 years ago, I probably would have got one. Did they discuss it with me? No. I'm so frustrated.
 
I doubt very much that they will scrap free prescriptions for people with long term chronic illnesses such as diabetes. We are not the USA after all and there would be a huge uprising if they did.
 
shiv said:
Pretty much. The DSN said right now there isn't much point in going for a pump assessment because I don't meet the guidelines, which are now treated as gospel. She thinks it would benefit me psychologically (I expressed my tiredness and frustration at having done over 20,000 injections and now facing even more). Apparently if I'd gone for a pump 2 years ago, I probably would have got one. Did they discuss it with me? No. I'm so frustrated.
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I hope Sam doesn't get the same response. If she's successful, perhaps you could also get referred to Bournemouth?

edit: we posted at the same time Sam!
 
Northerner said:
I hope Sam doesn't get the same response. If she's successful, perhaps you could also get referred to Bournemouth?

edit: we posted at the same time Sam!
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If I get the same response, I will kick up such a stink its unreal 😡 PCT cuts or not, I meet at least one of the NICE guidelines
 
shiv said:
Exactly - you meet the criteria so you should be fine 🙂
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oooooh let me tell you, if by some unhappy chance they say no, I'll camp outside 10 downing street til cameron gives me the pennies to self fund 😎
 
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