According to the BBC: “Amputation rates for diabetes patients are 10 times higher in some parts of England than in others, according to a study. Researchers say the figures highlight the importance of ensuring the right specialist care. The findings coincide with an NHS report putting the annual cost of diabetes-related amputations at £120m.” This… Read More »
In a letter to The Times, everyone’s second favourite diabetes charity writes about the NHS reforms in England and Wales. They say: “The reforms will place £80 billion of the NHS budget into the hands of GPs, but plans to make GP consortia accountable to the public are far too weak. The plans will allow… Read More »
Dearest darling GP, I moved my healthcare to your business a couple of years ago because my previous GP was failing to deliver. He was medically mediocre and administratively hopeless. I like your surgery because you take in a lot of trainee GPs. Terrifying as this may first sound, they’re actually rather good – they’re… Read More »
Or Brutal truths shouted from the Dispensary In a guest post, my pharmacist gives the view from the other side of counter; take it away Simon -Tim Right, time to let you bunch know the grim truth about how NHS payment works and your place in the grand scheme of things. Here it is: every… Read More »
Last Saturday at 9.30am (which, as any normal person will realise, is far too early for a Saturday morning) I arrived at Napier University for the famed annual LDRG diabetes conference. I was slightly the worse for wear after a work-colleague’s retirement do the night before (I’m certain one of the glasses of champagne I… Read More »
Avid readers of your soaraway Shoot Up will know that I’m currently on an 18-month long NHS waiting list for a pump. You’ll also recall I’m not too chuffed about this for obvious reasons. As, on the whole, I’m generally a pain in the arse I’ve been writing polite letters to everyone concerned about this… Read More »
Scottish readers (and I know you exist) will be interested that Scotland’s SIGN Diabetes Management Guidelines Consultation is now taking place. Aileen at IPAG Scotland reminds us that any responses from the pancreatically challenged hoards need to be submitted before 16th October 2009. In particular, the section on pump therapy (4.3.1) looks like it was… Read More »
Well it’s that time of year again, the time of year when I usually ignore my letter from my doctor reminding me to go and get my winter ‘flu jab. But not this year, oh no. No, this year I’ll definitely be subjecting myself to the joys of a slightly achy arm for the day.… Read More »