NEWS
Discussions between industry and the DTN show a mutual
desire to continue supporting the NHS at this challenging time.
Industry bodies have united with suppliers to reassure insulin
pump users that their pumps are safe and still supported
while also assuring choice for four-year pump choices.
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NEWS
REPORT
Pandemic pump warranties
The Association of British Clinical
Diabetologists (ABCD, including the
Diabetes Technology Network - DTN)
and the Association of British HealthTech
Industries (ABHI) have released a
joint position statement supporting
management of people with diabetes
using out-of-warranty pumps while
ensuring appropriate patient choice.
These organisations acknowledge
that the COVID-19 pandemic has
impacted all diabetes outpatient services,
but in particular, the uptake of diabetes
technology. Access to start insulin pump
therapy (continuous subcutaneous insulin
infusion (CSII) or continuous glucose
monitoring (CGM), has been reduced.
This has affected those starting these
therapies for the first time as well as those
who were due to have renewals because
their devices were out of warranty.
It has been estimated that more than
8,000 people with diabetes may be using
insulin pumps that are out of warranty and
this has created a lot of alarm and concern
amongst Healthcare Professional (HCP)
teams as well as people with diabetes.
The diabetes technology industry has
responded to this in part through the safe
extension of insulin pump warranties that
had been due to expire throughout 2020,
and also in innovating in the provision of
virtual pump starts for both continued and
new pump users. Importantly, initiatives
from the DTN, JDRF, Diabetes UK and
individual NHS sites have allowed for
virtual events which enable people with
diabetes to gain the information and
insight to make an informed choice on
their future technology options.
In response to current challenges,
the DTN, working with industry partners
through the Association of British
HealthTech Industries (ABHI) diabetes
group*, has come up with three initiatives.
First, a virtual showroom on the DTN
website that can allow people with
diabetes to review available technologies
and have an informed discussion with
their HCP team. Second, a standard
operating procedure (SOP) to advise on
best practice for the remote start of both
insulin pump therapy and continuous
glucose monitoring. Then third, further
extension of insulin pump warranties till
end of April 2021.
These initiatives, endorsed by the
ABHI Diabetes industry group intend to:
● Provide a DTN and industry approved
pathway to enable people with diabetes
to access technology - responding to
limitations placed by COVID-19.
● Create a platform that facilitates patient
choice across all available technologies
● Allow for renewals for the thousands
of patients whose pumps are now out
of warranty during the ongoing COVID
pandemic.
● Provide access to new to technology
patients where this has been reduced or
stopped due to COVID restrictions.
● Facilitate the use of industry specialists
integrated with specialist nurses to
maintain diabetes technology services,
anticipating that specialist nurse time will
be significantly reduced in the coming
months.
● Mitigate risks for people using out-ofwarranty devices and provide
a clear
pathway and timeline for offering those
people appropriate choice if they are
eligible for renewal.