Westminster, from the giant’s point of view
After a morning spent opening the eyes of MPs to quite how big a deal Type 1 diabetes really is, the JDRF Type 1 Parliament moved on. The afternoon session was question time with a ;
JDRF Type 1 Parliament: It’s down to us, chaps
@Alison ‘There was general agreement amongst the clinicians on the panel that some Drs remain sceptical about the benefits of pumps and this is not a good thing.’
From my perspective, and I understand that this may not be everyone’s, if the clinician isn’t up to speed then s/he has two choices get there pdq or get another job – pumps are not new technology. My health is far too important to have less than optimal care from someone who can’t be bothered to keep up to speed.
I would be saying this to the Hospital Medical Director who has ultimate managerial responsibility for the service provided and the authority to take action.
From my experience this approach works.
I’d agree with that. But it takes someone strong in every area to make that happen. Probably the type of people who read ShootUp are the types who can really drive change, the question is, can they be bothered?
I can! I’ve received a reply from my MP about the failure of my PCT to provide a Dafne or equivalent. He wasn’t aware of the obligation but has now asked the Chair of my PCT for an answer.
It is up to the clinician’s to be up to speed but as patients/customers we must be the ones to challenge them and their support/funding network to provide the care we are entitled to and require.
Thank you for feeding this all back to us Alison.
Semi-rhetorical question time: I wonder if an independent Scotland would approach this any different?
Gah! Don’t mention an independent Scotland – it’d be a disaster!
Scottish healthcare is in some ways good (free prescriptions for all) and in some ways bad (pump provision is even worse than in England and Wales) but it tends to take it leads (or be slightly in front of) England and Wales; so I’m not sure it would be all that different…
We’ve discussed this before; free prescriptions for all is paid for by reduction in provision of other services.
I doubt in the short-term it would be much different but over time differences would appear naturally.
FREEDOM!
@seasiderdave My work is done, you’re writing this stuff better than me now 😉
lol – not quite but I’m starting to enjoy getting stuck in.
I agree, but this approach can also be complimented by a “grass roots” style of action. Lots of well-informed diabetics asking for / demanding pumps and better equipment is better than no ill-informed diabetics not asking for equipment.
There’s room – and a need – for both pioneering ‘thrusters’ and more general ‘grass roots’ pressure.
I beg to disagree.
All that is needed is one ‘pioneering thruster’ to break the mould. The grass roots get the improvement by default because the clinic policy/staff has changed.
The problem with a multiple grass roots approach – is that you get ‘nice’ people involved who dilute the effort and lose the focus -you need to be focussed and effective rather than nice.
But for the thrusters and rooters you actually need someone to do that. I can’t identify a single thrusting individual in the country at the moment but actions like Wednesday can make a difference.
I see the T1 Parliament as a step in the right direction but it needs to continue and if we all fight our corners with consistent messages and action things will change.
If only @Teloz was around, I’m sure he would suitably lower the tone with all this talk of thrusting and rooting. Fn’aar fn’aar!
I was waiting for you on that one 😉
‘Grass roots’ doesn’t necessarily equate to ‘nice’. Pressure is pressure and death by a thousand cuts can be just as effective as one fatal stab – to use a rather odd analogy.
Pressure is pressure, but it has to be effective otherwise you end up with everyone agreeing that everything is rubblish but no one doing anything about it. “What I’ve seen a lot of over the years is:
Patient: “we need more x”
Dr: “oh, but poor me is too busy to give x, I’m so overworked”
Patient: “poor you, sorry, I’ll stop bothering you and go home to watch my own feet rotting off”.
Where it works is when the patient challenges and says “Let me speak to the PCT to try and get this moving then so we can help you solve the problem”. And then keeps the pressure on.
‘Grass roots’ doesn’t necessarily equate to ‘ineffective’ or ‘giving up at the first hurdle’. If you have a combination of pioneers and a mounting pressure from lots of people then resistance is futile.
A thousand cuts takes far too long. Time is on the side of the health service they gain everything by procrastination – you need/want the improvement yesterday.
My philosophy is always exert minimum effort to achieve the objective; that way you have the energy to go the distance. Ask for what you want – if you get it end of story. If you don’t get it escalate immediately. Follow that loop until you get a result.
Typical escalation hierarchy
Doctor
PCT Diabetes lead
PCT Chief Ex
PCT Chair
MP & Press
Minister for Health
If I post something two weeks after your comment, does that mean I get the last word? If so, then grass roots pressure is worthwhile as well as pioneering people. So there! 🙂
Last word !! I don’t think so. 😉
Either method will work – just that motivating grassroots is not always possible. You will get the reply from a lot of people ‘ I don’t want to upset the doctor – it may affect my care ‘ (Been there). Too right it will affect your care – but not negatively I suggest.
At the end of the day its horses for courses and what the individual feels content with – the important thing is to take one route or the other rather than just sitting there, otherwise care does not improve.
I certainly think we can agree on that! (last word… 😉 )
@alison if nothing else comes out of it I find this positive!
• Type 1 diabetes needs to be defined as a specialist area to be commissioned separately from Type 2
@furrypaul I couldn’t agree more!