Tag Archives: ukcuts

Threat to diabetes sufferers as NHS rations testing strips to save money

August 1, 2013   Carers, Diabetes, ukcuts, Uncategorized
Diabetes UK claims people are being put at risk from serious complications
Charlie Cooper 

Thursday 01 August 2013

According to a new report, 39 per cent of people with diabetes had either been refused a blood test strip or had their prescription restricted.

Self-monitoring of blood glucose levels is essential for people with type 1 diabetes and for many with the more common type 2 diabetes, so they can adjust their treatment levels.

Failure to do so can lead to conditions such as hypoglycaemia and ketoacidosis, and if left unmanaged in the long-term can result in serious complications that can require amputations, or cause blindness or stroke.

Blood monitoring and treatment adjustment is also necessary for many people with diabetes to go about everyday activities, such as eating and exercising, safely.

NHS England said that all doctors and pharmacists had been told not to restrict access to testing strips. However, many of the respondents to Diabetes’ UK survey, which consulted 2,000 people with diabetes, said that their GP had told them restrictions were in place because of policies issued by local health managers.

Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said that restricting access was not only causing distress, but would also create a problem for the NHS in the long term, as complications caused by lack of monitoring mounted up. Diabetes already costs the NHS around £10bn annually.

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Working Carer shortage ‘could force me into a home’

July 31, 2013   Carers, disability, ukcuts

The lady claims to have gone a week without being able to use the toilet

Written byELEANOR DICKINSON

15/07/13 - Christine Maksymowicz from Cambridge who following an illness is now a Quadripelgic with her husband John Maksymowicz, they are concerned by failings of a care agency. Picture By Keith Jones 15/07/13 – Christine Maksymowicz from Cambridge who following an illness is now a Quadripelgic with her husband John Maksymowicz, they are concerned by failings of a care agency. Picture By Keith Jones

A paralysed woman claims a shortage of suitable carers could force her into residential care.

Quadriplegic Christine Maksymowicz, of Cherry Hinton Road, Cambridge, said she has been left without a live-in carer despite needing round-the-clock assistance.

She told the News she is being looked after by a district nurse while she waits for private care agency Pulse to provide a new carer.

However, the 60-year-old claims the changes have affected her quality of life and meant she has gone a week without going to the toilet.

She said: “The district nurses said they will only deal with my bowel movements twice a week, so if I can’t go on the day they come, then I won’t be able to go until the next week.”

Mrs Maksymowicz now fears she may have to go into residential care.

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Carer mum wins washroom war

July 28, 2013   Carers, cerebral palsy, health, Scotland

A MUM forced to wash her disabled son at an £80-a-night hotel is to get a life-changing new bathroom — thanks to The Scottish Sun.

UNE MONAGHAN AND JONJO MURPHY WHO HAVE TO TRAVEL TO PREMIER INN AT TOLLCROSS TO HAVE A BATH

By SAM WALKER
Last Updated: 28th July 2013

A MUM forced to wash her disabled son at an £80-a-night hotel is to get a life-changing new bathroom — thanks to The Scottish Sun.

June Monaghan bathed her lad Jonjo Murphy at a Premier Inn for seven months because social services refused to adapt her home.

But after we intervened this month, Glasgow City Council has pledged to fit a special shower unit in 17-year-old Jonjo’s room.

And June, 49, will get massage therapy for back pain caused by lifting her son, who has cerebral palsy.

The relieved ex-pub landlady — who also cares for brain-damaged hubby Robert, 51, at their home in the city’s Robroyston — said yesterday: “I’m very grateful to The Scottish Sun. Things are starting to happen.”

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