Was that an invitation to us 'Sasanachs'?!
(well, I'm actually 25% Scots, so will just lean across the border a bit instead).
Andy 🙂
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This may be about to happen to you...
- Thread starter Northerner
- Start date
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Was that an invitation to us 'Sasanachs'?!
(well, I'm actually 25% Scots, so will just lean across the border a bit instead).
Andy 🙂
Rainbow
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Do you know, I think I may have just been party to something that didn't even register until I had read this thread.
I was at the docs this morn, feeling a little unwell and went to sit outside the main waiting area as I needed a bit of air (didn't want to be sick in full view).
My pump beeped for attention just as the senior GP walked by and I reached for my pump to see what I needed to do. The GP stopped in her tracks and came over to me.
"So, this is an insulin pump is it, mmmm..... you're very fortunate to have one. What are the advantages over injecting? I proceeded to list the benefits I have found and low and behold another GP walks by and stops to join in.
"Mmmmmm he says, we know nothing about these you see and we really need to.... perhaps you can come in sometime after a surgery and talk us through it.
I was feeling pretty grotty at the time and it did cross my mind why two docs were in no rush to get to their rooms when the surgery was packed. Now I am blessed with a fantastic surgery so I have to say I thought how lovely that they seemed so interested, not so unusual really.
They both mentioned the cost of consumables etc and still I didn't think anything.
But now..... Call me cynical, but it's got me wondering! I only went in with a nasty ear infection after all.......
I'm going to do some digging!
I was at the docs this morn, feeling a little unwell and went to sit outside the main waiting area as I needed a bit of air (didn't want to be sick in full view).
My pump beeped for attention just as the senior GP walked by and I reached for my pump to see what I needed to do. The GP stopped in her tracks and came over to me.
"So, this is an insulin pump is it, mmmm..... you're very fortunate to have one. What are the advantages over injecting? I proceeded to list the benefits I have found and low and behold another GP walks by and stops to join in.
"Mmmmmm he says, we know nothing about these you see and we really need to.... perhaps you can come in sometime after a surgery and talk us through it.
I was feeling pretty grotty at the time and it did cross my mind why two docs were in no rush to get to their rooms when the surgery was packed. Now I am blessed with a fantastic surgery so I have to say I thought how lovely that they seemed so interested, not so unusual really.
They both mentioned the cost of consumables etc and still I didn't think anything.
But now..... Call me cynical, but it's got me wondering! I only went in with a nasty ear infection after all.......
I'm going to do some digging!
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Sounds like they might be becoming pump experts soon, after a couple of lessons from you! 😱
F
FM001
Guest
I think this is the general trend now Northerner to transfer diabetic care to the patients gp. My own gp is fantastic, but he is not a diabetes specialist and I have to see another gp who is, or the diabetes nurse. I asked why I couldn't be seen in the hospital clinic as before, and was told that they will only see patients who are experiencing difficulties with their control and are in need of further assistance which the gp practice cannot provide, once control is reestablished the patient is taken off the books and referred back to the care of their gp. Given the choice I would much prefer to be seen in the hospital clinic as the knowledge and expertise is far superior than my gp practice, which I am sure we are all in agreement with. Toby.
This is true of Type 2's but only a few Type 1's. Personally Northerner, I would contact PALS at your local PCT and get them to find out why you cannot be seen by a consultant at the hospital. YOU have the choice of who you see although parts of the NHS are not so keen to admit this. The PCT also has sets of targets they must meet and it would be interesting to know how they do this without a hospital clinic. The PCT's themselves are not scrapped until 2013 and as yet there are no clear guidelines about how the handover to GP consortiums is going to happen, so it seems a VERY early decision to close a clinic and one that potentially could cause them problems.
I have to say, I used to live in southampton and probably went to the clinic in question and I never saw a 'good' consultant either. Its only since I have moved elsewhere in the country that I have found an excellent consultant.
williammcd
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
my doc does know about diabetes but i think he`s more concerned about costs than negative health because of cuts ,my nurse on the other hand has battled all year to get me my test strips ,she says we need them more than any other consumable its that simple ,i think she actually gets it, she has helped a few keep theirs against the other health teams advice,
hope we never lose her
hope we never lose her
grogans
Active Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Retinopathy scans
Trying to get a retinopathy scan has been a nightmare - used to be a yearly referral then it was down to the patient to initiate things in my area. Finally told I'd be sent an appointment in April (think we're a bit past that now) and advised that I wasn't a priority as my last test (two years ago) was fine. Finally had to get a private scan done and STILL waiting to hear of future NHS appointments.
Trying to get a retinopathy scan has been a nightmare - used to be a yearly referral then it was down to the patient to initiate things in my area. Finally told I'd be sent an appointment in April (think we're a bit past that now) and advised that I wasn't a priority as my last test (two years ago) was fine. Finally had to get a private scan done and STILL waiting to hear of future NHS appointments.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I'm sure that's contrary to NICE guidelines Barb - diabetics need an ANNUAL check - it's surely nonsense to say you don't need one because you didn't have any problems last time, the whole point is to pick up on changes as soon as possible.
Agreed. Don't let them 'mess' with YOUR eyesight. But anyway, it'll cost the country far more if you don't catch any problems early.
Andy (keen to pay as little tax as possible) HB
Nice
Thanks Northerner, I think so too, but I'm convinced NICE really stands for Nasty Individuals Can't Empathise. Thankfully my latest scan was okay but eyesight is a constant worry and I'm very reliant on annual scans for peace of mind (and private tests are expensive ). The whole process is incredibly complex now - being referred from one department to another, then cut off in the process. It's as though they want you to give up and go away.
Thanks Northerner, I think so too, but I'm convinced NICE really stands for Nasty Individuals Can't Empathise. Thankfully my latest scan was okay but eyesight is a constant worry and I'm very reliant on annual scans for peace of mind (and private tests are expensive ). The whole process is incredibly complex now - being referred from one department to another, then cut off in the process. It's as though they want you to give up and go away.
haha 😉 I got up early because my mum was taking me to town so I could go round EVERY recruitment agency in Bournemouth - sure I have to find a job now? 😉
Shouldnt happen with the retinopathy scans because you can get them done at most opticians can't you? Well I hope you find a new clinic to go to.
Not sure its NICE guidelines but it IS part of the National Service Framework for Diabetes and it is a target the PCT's are supposed to meet. It should be done at least annually. There is a Diabetes UK leaflet that covers all of this which is available from https://www.diabetes.org.uk/OnlineShop/New-to-Diabetes/What-diabetes-care-to-expect/ you can download the PDF or order a paper copy. It details ALL the care you should receive and what to do if you don't. It state in there that the eye test should be anually and this leaflet was updated by Diabetes UK this year, so its definately upto date.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
optician tests
Yes, you can get retinopathy scans at opticians but they typically charge around ?20. Since we should be entitled to free tests it rankles a bit, but nothing is more important than eyesight.
Thanks for all the advice. As our local health authority lost the details of 100s of diabetic patients a while back, that might have a bearing on my current difficulties!
Yes, you can get retinopathy scans at opticians but they typically charge around ?20. Since we should be entitled to free tests it rankles a bit, but nothing is more important than eyesight.
Thanks for all the advice. As our local health authority lost the details of 100s of diabetic patients a while back, that might have a bearing on my current difficulties!
Northerner,
Just returning to the original topic, if this has been done in response to the new Government's cuts then it does seem to be a remarkably swift decision for the NHS, it being less than five months since the election. If you have not done so already then I would try contacting your DSN and your GP to see what their view is, it might just be that your clinic has been consolidated with another one at a different hospital and you may just need a fresh referral.
In the recent parliament debate on T1 care for young people there was talk about the move of the principal care for T1 diabetes from clinics to GPs with concerns expressed about the impact of this change. As has been said elsewhere on the forum I think it is difficult enough justifying this for T2 diabetics let alone T1.
I also think that GPs necessarily have a different agenda to the consultants, the advice of GPs must be tempered by a concern over the impact on the cost to their surgery's budget, hence the common reluctance to be generous in prescribing testing strips. The clinic consultants should advise without such considerations although I would agree that with a GP you tend to get a longer consultation. 😉
I also wonder if principal care did move to GPs then who would make decisions with respects to moving someone onto pump treatment given that the extra costs of the pump is currently the responsibility of the clinics rather than the GP.
Just returning to the original topic, if this has been done in response to the new Government's cuts then it does seem to be a remarkably swift decision for the NHS, it being less than five months since the election. If you have not done so already then I would try contacting your DSN and your GP to see what their view is, it might just be that your clinic has been consolidated with another one at a different hospital and you may just need a fresh referral.
In the recent parliament debate on T1 care for young people there was talk about the move of the principal care for T1 diabetes from clinics to GPs with concerns expressed about the impact of this change. As has been said elsewhere on the forum I think it is difficult enough justifying this for T2 diabetics let alone T1.
I also think that GPs necessarily have a different agenda to the consultants, the advice of GPs must be tempered by a concern over the impact on the cost to their surgery's budget, hence the common reluctance to be generous in prescribing testing strips. The clinic consultants should advise without such considerations although I would agree that with a GP you tend to get a longer consultation. 😉
I am in quite a fortunate position that quite by chance my GP is also one of the consultants at the local diabetic clinic. His guidance on diabetes has been very sound but with regards to the pump he defers entirely to the advice of the clinic and in particular to the DSN and dietician that he trusts (and which I do too 😉).
I also wonder if principal care did move to GPs then who would make decisions with respects to moving someone onto pump treatment given that the extra costs of the pump is currently the responsibility of the clinics rather than the GP.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I agree, it does seem a swift response. However, it does appear to be a very sudden and poorly planned change given that my (and no doubt many other) appointment has been cancelled at such short notice - in fact, if the kind lady had not taken it upon herself to inform patients by telephone I would possibly have not known about it until I turned up on the day. Another change I noticed a couple of months ago (which may have been planned more in advance) was that the walk-in centres were no longer doing blood tests for GP surgeries, I had to go back to the surgery.
I have little confidence in the GP at my surgery who is supposed to know about diabetes. I saw him once shortly after diagnosis and already knew more than him so have been seeing a different GP at the practice. Still, as I've said before, I wasn't particularly impressed by the consultants I saw at clinic and I still have access to DSNs, although where they are based now I have no idea - just have a phone number.
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