Diabetes technology: specialists are blocking access for some patients, say experts

Diabetes teams in some NHS trusts are blocking patients’ access to new technologies that could improve their care, clinical leaders have said.

A Westminster Health Forum session on diabetes and technology on 16 October heard that there was unwarranted variation across the country in access to insulin pumps and other clinically effective devices. Poorer access often stemmed from a lack of understanding among individual consultants and departments and a reluctance to offer new devices to patients, the experts said.

Partha Kar, a consultant in diabetes and endocrinology in Portsmouth and joint lead for diabetes for the NHS …