Patient experience of health, care and support services.

News - 28 July 2023

Thank you for completing the Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin survey Diabetes: Patient experience of health, care, and support services.

Diabetes UK say in their report 'Diabetes is Serious. Diabetes care: is it fair enough?' following an analysis of '...the most recent National Diabetes Audit, 2021 to 2022, broken down by ICB to show the percentage of people receiving all eight of the NICE recommended annual care processes.' NHS Shropshire Telford and Wrekin ICB has the lowest number of people receiving all eight checks and is 19% lower than the same period in 2019-2020.

We will use what you tell us in the survey to create a report that we will share with commissioners and providers of services to share positive or negative experiences and where the services can learn from excellent care you received or look to improve services where people's experiences aren't so good, plus publishing it on our website and sharing with others such as NHS England, Integrated Care Board, NHS Trusts, Care Quality Commission, and Telford and Wrekin Council etc.

Healthwatch Telford and Wrekin have put together some useful information and resources to help you understand and live well with Diabetes.

Free prescriptions - your rights:

If you take diabetes medicine, you're entitled to free prescriptions for all your medicines. To claim your free prescriptions, you'll need to apply for an exemption certificate. This is known as a PF57 form.

To do this:

- fill in a form at your GP surgery

- you should get the certificate in the post about a week later – it'll last for 5 years

- take it to your pharmacy with your prescriptions

Save your receipts if you have to pay for diabetes medicine before you receive your exemption certificate. You can claim the money back if you include the receipts along with your completed PF57 form.

Support for people with Diabetes Type 1

MyType1 Diabetes England is an online resource that an help you manage your diabetes, for free. It is recommended and funded by NHS England.

You can:

Access information, videos and tools to help you understand type 1 diabetes and how to manage it.
Use a library of online diabetes education courses. Useful if you’re starting out, want a refresher or are keen to find out the latest in diabetes management

https://www.mytype1diabetes.nhs.uk/

Locally there is ‘Daphne’ training for people with type 1 diabetes, which supports people to carbohydrate count and adjust their insulin.

This can be accessed through the Community Diabetes Nurses. Details are available on the Shropshire Community Health Trust website or phone 01743 277693.

https://www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/diabetes

Support for people identified as being Pre-diabetic

Living Well Taking Control provides the Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme in Telford and Wrekin.

The programme provides you various information and support:

To learn all about healthy eating
To learn about sustainable exercise plans for all activity levels
Help to lose weight if it's required
Support to bring your blood sugar back to a healthy level
An education on what Diabetes is and how to prevent developing the disease
The impact of Diabetes on the lives of those who have got it
Regular support from your coach
Peer support from other group members if you choose the group coaching option
One-to-one online support from your coach if you choose the digital option
To be part of a programme which has helped tens of thousands of people across the UK to reduce their risk of developing diabetes

To join the programme you can either:

Speak to your GP or relevant health care professional and they can refer you to the programme if you are at risk.
Register online. You do have to provide a recent blood sugar reading forma test or complete a risk screening tool.

https://www.lwtcsupport.co.uk/about

Support for people with Diabetes Type 2

Healthy Living is a free online NHS service for people living with type 2 diabetes. It provides knowledge and information that will support you to manage your condition.

https://healthyliving.nhs.uk/

Locally there is XPERT Diabetes for people with type 2 diabetes, which provides structured education for people.

This can be accessed through the Community Diabetes Nurses. Details are available on the Shropshire Community Health Trust website or phone 01743 277693.

https://www.shropscommunityhealth.nhs.uk/diabetes

You can continue to share your story of the care and support you receive for your Diabetes or Pre-diabetes at every stage of your journey through NHS care and support.