Chamber
Plenary, 03 Sep 2009
03 Sep 2009 · S3 · Plenary
Item of business
Insulin Pump Therapy
I congratulate David Stewart on securing this debate on an issue of great importance for many families throughout Scotland. As we have heard, type 1 diabetes is a particularly unpleasant, completely unpreventable, condition. Many sufferers are subject to symptoms such as extreme tiredness, anxiety, weight loss and persistent thirst, and life expectancy is reduced by 23 years, on average.
Although the condition is not preventable, a strict regime that includes regular planned exercise, a carefully planned diet, regular blood glucose testing and multiple daily injections of insulin can allow sufferers to lead as normal a life as possible. I imagine that everyone here agrees that that cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, really be considered to be a normal lifestyle, however. Looking around the chamber, I am well aware that the vast majority of members do not have a carefully planned diet or take part in regular planned exercise—I certainly do not—never mind devoting large portions of the day to regular blood testing and insulin injections.
Colleagues will agree that any measures that can improve the standard and expectancy of life for type 1 diabetes sufferers in Scotland should be taken. It is vital that awareness and knowledge of insulin pump therapy is increased throughout Scotland.
Jenny, aged 11, lives in Fairlie in my constituency. She is insulin-dependent type 1 and has been since the age of three. Jenny has been on a basal-bolus regime since she was seven, which involves an average of six injections a day. As members will appreciate, a child who lives with 2,000 injections a year would absolutely love to have an insulin pump, which requires only a set change every three or four days.
While she was living in England, Jenny's parents asked her consultant whether she could have a pump. He said no. Because she co-operated with respect to her care and kept excellent control, she did not meet the criteria. That is equal to someone being told that it is only if they do not give a damn about their care and let the disease spiral out of control that they will be considered for the best type of treatment.
Thankfully, Jenny has continued to co-operate on her care. She asked again this year about the possibility of a pump, at Crosshouse hospital. Again she was denied. She did not meet the criteria. That insult was compounded with the closing comment, "It's only a few injections," as if a child having six injections a day has no right to seek better alternatives.
Not everyone who suffers from type 1 diabetes is eligible for the treatment, but the benefits for those who are eligible are dramatic. Although regular insulin injections work, it is difficult to achieve a perfect blood-glucose balance, which can lead to further health problems. Insulin pumps remove the element of chance by providing precise and adjustable dosing, which in turn leads to a greater quality of life and greater life expectancy.
The number of patients who receive insulin pump therapy varies dramatically, as David Stewart pointed out. Like Cathy Jamieson, I am a member for the area that is covered by Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board which, as we have heard, provides pumps to—the figure is, frankly, embarrassing—0.1 per cent of patients. Only two people in the health board area receive insulin pump therapy. In Tayside NHS Board, the rate is 4.2 per cent.
Funding for treatment is equally varied. Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board allocates funds for a mere three new pumps per year, Lothian NHS Board has a budget of £382,000 for insulin pump therapy, and Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board and Highland NHS Board have no separate budgets for the therapy.
Although the condition is not preventable, a strict regime that includes regular planned exercise, a carefully planned diet, regular blood glucose testing and multiple daily injections of insulin can allow sufferers to lead as normal a life as possible. I imagine that everyone here agrees that that cannot, by any stretch of the imagination, really be considered to be a normal lifestyle, however. Looking around the chamber, I am well aware that the vast majority of members do not have a carefully planned diet or take part in regular planned exercise—I certainly do not—never mind devoting large portions of the day to regular blood testing and insulin injections.
Colleagues will agree that any measures that can improve the standard and expectancy of life for type 1 diabetes sufferers in Scotland should be taken. It is vital that awareness and knowledge of insulin pump therapy is increased throughout Scotland.
Jenny, aged 11, lives in Fairlie in my constituency. She is insulin-dependent type 1 and has been since the age of three. Jenny has been on a basal-bolus regime since she was seven, which involves an average of six injections a day. As members will appreciate, a child who lives with 2,000 injections a year would absolutely love to have an insulin pump, which requires only a set change every three or four days.
While she was living in England, Jenny's parents asked her consultant whether she could have a pump. He said no. Because she co-operated with respect to her care and kept excellent control, she did not meet the criteria. That is equal to someone being told that it is only if they do not give a damn about their care and let the disease spiral out of control that they will be considered for the best type of treatment.
Thankfully, Jenny has continued to co-operate on her care. She asked again this year about the possibility of a pump, at Crosshouse hospital. Again she was denied. She did not meet the criteria. That insult was compounded with the closing comment, "It's only a few injections," as if a child having six injections a day has no right to seek better alternatives.
Not everyone who suffers from type 1 diabetes is eligible for the treatment, but the benefits for those who are eligible are dramatic. Although regular insulin injections work, it is difficult to achieve a perfect blood-glucose balance, which can lead to further health problems. Insulin pumps remove the element of chance by providing precise and adjustable dosing, which in turn leads to a greater quality of life and greater life expectancy.
The number of patients who receive insulin pump therapy varies dramatically, as David Stewart pointed out. Like Cathy Jamieson, I am a member for the area that is covered by Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board which, as we have heard, provides pumps to—the figure is, frankly, embarrassing—0.1 per cent of patients. Only two people in the health board area receive insulin pump therapy. In Tayside NHS Board, the rate is 4.2 per cent.
Funding for treatment is equally varied. Ayrshire and Arran NHS Board allocates funds for a mere three new pumps per year, Lothian NHS Board has a budget of £382,000 for insulin pump therapy, and Dumfries and Galloway NHS Board and Highland NHS Board have no separate budgets for the therapy.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Alasdair Morgan):
SNP
The final item of business is a members' business debate on motion S3M-4723, in the name of David Stewart, on insulin pump therapy. The debate will be conclu...
Motion debated,
That the Parliament acknowledges the benefits that insulin pumps have for people with type 1 diabetes in assisting with the condition; notes that between 4% ...
David Stewart (Highlands and Islands) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to debate access to insulin pumps and thank members throughout the chamber who signed the motion and who have deferred travelling t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
We come to the open debate. As a substantial number wish to speak, I ask members to limit their contributions to four minutes.
Kenneth Gibson (Cunninghame North) (SNP):
SNP
I congratulate David Stewart on securing this debate on an issue of great importance for many families throughout Scotland. As we have heard, type 1 diabetes...
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison):
SNP
I have information on Ayrshire and Arran, which the member might find useful. As I understand it, a redesign of the dietetic resource is going on, to support...
Kenneth Gibson:
SNP
I am delighted to hear that. I was contacted by constituents about the issue only this week. If that redesign is taking place, I hope that people whose child...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
The member should conclude.
Kenneth Gibson:
SNP
I will finish on that point, then.
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
I am obliged.
Karen Whitefield (Airdrie and Shotts) (Lab):
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to speak in the debate on insulin pump provision, which is an important issue, and I congratulate Dave Stewart on securing the deba...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
That is a good point on which to conclude.
Mary Scanlon (Highlands and Islands) (Con):
Con
I, too, congratulate David Stewart on securing the debate. It is appropriate that we discuss insulin pump therapy again, given the commitment that the Cabine...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
The member must conclude.
Mary Scanlon:
Con
I will leave it there.
Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab):
Lab
As has been said, Parliament had the opportunity to discuss this important matter in May 2008. I thank Dave Stewart for securing this evening's debate and fo...
Ross Finnie (West of Scotland) (LD):
LD
I, too, congratulate David Stewart on securing the debate and on his continued interest in the matter.I must make a declaration of interest, Presiding Office...
Hugh Henry (Paisley South) (Lab):
Lab
I congratulate David Stewart on continuing to bring to our attention an issue that is of great significance to far too many people throughout Scotland.Let me...
The Deputy Presiding Officer:
SNP
At this stage, I would be prepared to accept a motion without notice to extend the debate by up to 10 minutes.
Motion moved,
That, under Rule 8.14.3, the debate be extended by up to 10 minutes.—David Stewart.
Motion agreed to.
Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con):
Con
I, too, am pleased that David Stewart has secured the debate and thank him for his efforts in doing so. My comments will be fairly brief but, given that I ch...
Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab):
Lab
I, too, congratulate David Stewart on securing the debate, which is the third debate on diabetes in the Parliament. As Nanette Milne said, we received a help...
The Minister for Public Health and Sport (Shona Robison):
SNP
I acknowledge David Stewart's long-standing commitment to the issue in the Parliament. As members have said, the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing n...
Karen Whitefield:
Lab
The Government is currently undertaking work to review the Scottish diabetes framework. I do not expect the minister to tell us what will be in the revised d...
Shona Robison:
SNP
I will come on to the framework in a minute.Some of the credit for the progress that has been made—albeit that there is still more to do—must be given to the...
Meeting closed at 17:53.