Question S4W-24869: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 13/03/2015
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4O-04120 (see below) by Maureen Watt on 12 March 2015 (Official Report, c. 5), what the target is for patients to receive access to an insulin pump when it is deemed to be medically appropriate.
Answered by Maureen Watt (25/03/2015):
The Scottish Government has not set a specific target in relation to initiation on to insulin pump therapy. However, we expect insulin pumps to be made available as soon as possible after a clinical decision is made to provide one, taking account of individual patient circumstances and clinical considerations.
Current Status: Answered by Maureen Watt on 25/03/2015
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Oral Question S4O-04120: Sarah Boyack, Lothian, Scottish Labour, Date Lodged: 04/03/2015
To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how long patients with type 1 diabetes should have to wait for access to an insulin pump.
Current Status: Taken in the Chamber on 12/03/2015
This question was answered and can be seen starting at 10.45 minutes into this video (video no longer available on Parliament Website) On You Tube Here starting at 10.45 minutes
Text of the answer
Type 1 Diabetes (Insulin Pump Therapy) 7. Sarah Boyack (Lothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Government what its position is on how long patients with type 1 diabetes should have to wait for access to an insulin pump. (S4O-04120)
The Minister for Public Health (Maureen Watt): The Scottish Government expects all people who meet the clinical criteria and who would benefit from insulin pump therapy to receive it in a timely manner. Diabetes teams invest time in ensuring that patients who commence insulin pump therapy are highly motivated to self-manage their diabetes and are fully prepared for the change in their diabetes management. That includes undergoing appropriate structured education. The time that is taken in supporting the initiation on to insulin pump therapy is tailored to meet each individual’s needs.
Sarah Boyack: Does the minister have a reasonable timeline for that education process? One of my constituents has been informed by NHS Lothian that, even after they have been selected for insulin pump treatment, they will have to wait at least a year to get a pump. Surely that is an excessive time and is not acceptable. Does the minister have guidelines on how long patients should have to wait to access an insulin pump once the education process has been completed? I am told that the issue arises because of a lack of specialists. What plans does the Scottish Government have to look at the issue? Will she investigate it personally to find out what is at the root of the problem?
Maureen Watt: I am certainly prepared to look into that individual case if Sarah Boyack provides me with the details. Most boards have met the targets that they have been set, but I am prepared to look into that case in Lothian for her.
