Diabetes Dialogue

Yes, I found this offputting, too.

Also, I feel that some people will be put off answering all those questions ....

Finally, why are the ethnic groups not the current Council for Racial Equality groups? Perhaps (the cynic in me says) because this abbreviated list means that the ethnic group with the worst health in the UK cannot be identified - they will be hidden in the majority of 'White' ("they" being Travellers).

I can see the need if the position was relevant, but no need for excitement. My answer for position, if I remember correctly, was "sitting at computer typing this".

Cheers, Alan, Oz

Just "White" isn't an option.

My ancestry includes English, Scots, Irish, Welsh, German, Dutch and French, but there was no category "Mongrel".

Maggie
Type 2, dx Nov '03, D&E, A1c 7.6 > 5.6

I presume as in any survey, comments are pretty irrelevant unless they can be se"e what group they are coming from.

I just put myself as Organisation: Diabetic patient
Positionq - User of NHS service since 2967 as a diabetic.

I do agree that as it is a must answer box, then it owuld be good to know what you and cannot put in - I just did it and waited to see if it would accept it.

"fully accountable and be more accessible to patients" alas the NHS talks a better game than it plays, the NHS love to use sound bites like accountability and accessible but that is pure obfuscation that hides their inaction, for those of us with conditions like Diabetes we are expecting miracles if we expect the NHS to ever become fully accountable and be more accessible to patients in fact I would soon move to be in an area where the local PCT and Hospital Trust was truly fully accountable and accessible to patients.

I have to agree with you on the subject of NHS accessibility and accountability. The NHS is now such a complex system to access, with so many managers and departments to get through that many people give up.
From my own experience my medical team, via the Diabetes Network Core Group in my local hospital, have spent countless hours tryng to negotiate with the PCT and Hospital Management regarding specific manpower and resources which are greatly needed.
These Diabetes Network Core Groups are made up of representatives from primary and secondary care (doctors, consultants, dieticians, DSN's, opthalmic specialists etc)as well as patient representatives from various social groups, (type 1, and 2, young people, parent reps etc)and are used as a tool to define where targets are being met and where improvements can be made.
It has taken a great deal of organisation by myself as a parent representative on the group to make the Powers that Be hear our voices. I have found patient power to be a very useful tool in the negotiating process. It seems that the hospital Management are aware of the need for certain areas of improvement, they are then faced with a brick wall from the PCT who are answerabe to the Department of Health. Their only priority is to make sure that all the relevant boxes are ticked and that all the relevant targets as set out by the Department of Health are met. There is little room for negotiation with these people. They are completely out of touch with both patients and medical team requirements. The only way to get heard by them is to make enough noise (as a group-canvassing, questionnaires, letter writing etc) and to involve the local press on a regular basis to keep things ticking along. I have also found my local MP and Diabetes UK regional manager to be invaluable assets in the negotiation process. The main thing is - not to let go, and get your facts and evidence accurate. Then make sure you go through all the different management levels and include PALS, and the PPIF. Finally keep the tone of your negotiations non confrontational, and don't expect changes to happen overnight. Hope this helps.