David Stewart calls on NHS Boards and Scottish Government to provide more insulin pumps for diabetes sufferers

11 March 2011

Highlands and Islands Labour MSP David Stewart has called on NHS boards and the Scottish Government to provide more insulin pumps for diabetes sufferers in Scotland.

Mr Stewart has tabled a Parliamentary Motion urging action on the issue as Scotland has the second highest prevalence of type 1 diabetes in Europe but the lowest pump provision pump provision.

He commented: "The number of Scots suffering diabetes has increased significantly over the last few years.

"It is vital that sufferers of all ages have easy access to insulin pumps at all times.

"I am concerned that many NHS boards may not have followed procurement guidance from the Scottish Government and that the Government's Scottish Diabetes Action Plan sets out too modest targets for widening access to insulin pump therapy, thus depriving pumps to people on waiting lists.

"Scotland has the second highest prevalence of type 1 diabetes in Europe but the lowest pump provision. I urge the Scottish Government to challenge NHS boards to improve their record on widening access to insulin pump provision."

Last August Mr Stewart signed the Children’s Charter petition to ask the UK Government / Northern Ireland Executive / Scottish Government / Welsh Assembly Government to facilitate the implementation of the Diabetes UK Children’s Charter to ensure that young people with diabetes receive better care and
support in the future.

He has previously called on the Government to introduce "world class" diabetes services in Scotland as soon as possible.

David Stewart's Parliamentary Motion is as follows :

That the Parliament regrets the loss of potential savings opportunities of £278,000 in the procurement of insulin pumps through what appears to be mainland NHS boards, excluding Ayrshire and Arran, disregarding the guidance of NHS National Services Scotland’s National Procurement Division’s guidance on the preferred ranked supplier; considers that the division undertook an extensive technical and clinical assessment of the pumps prior to ranking preferred suppliers; calls for an explanation of why the mainland NHS boards seem to have failed to follow procurement guidance; urges the Scottish Executive to strengthen the requirement of NHS boards to follow national procurement guidance; is of the view that the Scottish Diabetes Action Plan sets out too modest targets for widening access to insulin pump therapy and understands that several boards have predicated their plans to widen access on expected procurement savings; believes that those NHS boards failing to follow procurement guidance have denied pumps to people on waiting lists because expected savings did not materialise; is concerned about what
it believes to be the deteriorating position on widening access to pump therapy for adults in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde area and calls on NHS Highland to reconsider its decision not to introduce a paediatric pump service; considers that Scotland has the second highest prevalence of type 1 diabetes in Europe but the lowest pump provision, and urges the Scottish Executive to challenge NHS boards to improve their record on widening access to insulin pump provision.