KITLIVING
INPUT is a UK charity with a mission to improve access to
diabetes technology such as insulin pumps, flash and continuous
glucose monitoring, as well as to structured education.
www.inputdiabetes.org.uk
is due to a hesitancy on the part of
some healthcare professionals, that
some see it as too much trouble, not
just educating patients on how to use a
pump, but having to justify giving one to
their patients. "I think that there has been
some unhelpful misinformation over the
years too," says Pickup. "I do think it's a
terrible shame that pumps are not offered
to patients, that they have to ask for it,
in some cases they have to fight pretty
hard to get access. There is a recognised
resistance towards technology in the UK,
a generalised problem with the uptake
of many new treatments, including
healthcare technologies. In general the
British public is quick to and a high uptake
of new technology, such as computers
and smartphones compared to some
other developed countires, but UK
healthcare is paradoxically slow to take up
some new medicines and fully implement
recognised valuable porcedures like hip
and cataract operations."
Should existing pump users shout
louder about their experience? "The voice
of the patient is really being listened to
now," says Pickup. "Social media has its
moments, but it's hard to control, and you "There is a recognised resistance
towards technology in the UK. - Pickup
often see bad experiences alongside the
good ones making for an unclear picture.
It often seems to be about who can shout
the loudest. I recall that at the last NICE
review in 2008 patient representatives
were included as well as HCPs. There was
feedback and advice from charities like
JDRF, INPUT and others. Patient's stories
about how technologies have improved
their lives were very impressive. I expect
that will increasingly be the case as
regards future technologies. Organsations
like INPUT as well as this magazine help
to marshall that impetus for the good."