S6W-19956

Asked by: Choudhury, Foysol (Scottish Labour - Lothian)

Question

To ask the Scottish Government what action it is taking to reduce any inequalities of access to diabetes technologies, in light of reported concerns that people may be dissuaded from using such technology if they have to pay for insulin pump batteries.

Answered by Minto, Jenni - Minister for Public Health and Women's Health

Our Diabetes Improvement Plan, published in 2021, contains a key commitment to increase access to existing and emerging diabetes technologies. Between 2016 and 2022, we have invested £29.6 million of additional funding specifically to support this.

The new Accelerated National Innovation Adoption (ANIA) pathway workstream will also support accelerated distribution of Closed Loop Systems, in a more equitable way across Scotland, by creating a new national onboarding team. We are aware there are variations in approach to the cost of replacement batteries for insulin pumps across NHS Boards and we have asked Boards and healthcare professionals to improve equity of access to technologies. Through the ANIA pathway workstream, the Scottish Government has invested a further £350,000 to accelerate the distribution of Closed Loop Systems.

Not all insulin pumps require batteries, and we expect NHS Boards and staff to support patients to find the most appropriate technology for their specific circumstances.

We are committed to supporting families and households who are facing the increased cost of living, and this includes tackling the barriers people face when trying to access diabetes technologies.

Provide insulin pumps to all children with type 1 diabetes in Scotland - 959 Signatures

Scotland has more than 327,000 people with diabetes, of whom 10% have type 1 diabetes. Almost 13,500 people died from diabetes in 2020; this is a major concern. People need assurances that they will have equitable access to monitoring devices to help manage their diabetes and prevent injury or death.

There is currently a postcode lottery with the provision of vital continuous monitoring pumps for children with diabetes. Some Scottish NHS Boards provide the pumps and have no waiting lists for children with type 1 diabetes, while others have only a 2 or 3 month wait.

NHS Highland has waiting lists for children up to 3 years. NHS Highland currently has 25 children waiting for a diabetic insulin pump and only provide funding for 8 pumps a year.

There are currently 167 children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in NHS Highland areas; Caithness itself has an average of 20 children a year diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

This indicates an equity issue for children receiving lifesaving diabetic insulin pumps in the NHS Highland area.

Found: Provide insulin pumps to all children with type 1 diabetes in Scotland

Mentions:
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