Smart watches on the NHS for some says Streeting.

I think the provision of more MRI scanners in particular, plus CT scanners is vitally important and necessary. France has considerably more of both than than we do mamie. Do you not think the provision of similar numbers of scanners to those in France is important here in the UK mamie?

Incidentally my mother had heart problems for about thirty years before she died at the age of 94.

Of course I do, but I don’t know what they do in France, which I believe is where you are.

maddyfour

I’ve been given to understand that the use of smart watches would be for overweight people to monitor their movements and to encourage them to lose weight so that they can go back to work. Maybe I’m wrong, but that was my implication. Therefore it would seem unlikely that retired people would routinely be given one, but again, maybe I’m wrong.

It still seems to me that more MRI scanners and CT scanners, which are sadly, provided in woefully small numbers for our population, would be a more effective way of treating the population. Obviously, others don’t agree.

Do you not think that a constant check and recording of SATs, pulse rate and BP are important for people with heart problems maddyfour? Our GP does.

I also know you were very ill last year foxie, so maybe it’s to do with that.

Perhaps you could tell us a bit more about the Zoe programme foxie, as I have never heard of it before you mentioned it. I did a quick Google search, and it appears to cost £25 per month. Do you buy the sensor? I know you’re in Scotland so maybe it’s free there. It would be nice to have a bit more information about it.

I’ve been given to understand that the use of smart watches would be for overweight people to monitor their movements and to encourage them to lose weight so that they can go back to work. Maybe I’m wrong, but that was my implication. Therefore it would seem unlikely that retired people would routinely be given one, but again, maybe I’m wrong.

It still seems to me that more MRI scanners and CT scanners, which are sadly, provided in woefully small numbers for our population, would be a more effective way of treating the population. Obviously, others don’t agree.

I've worn a Libre sensor, not for diabetes but as part of the Zoe programme. I found it easy to put on and quite unobtrusive to wear. I did all my normal activities and as long as I wore short sleeves no one would have been aware of it. It must be an absolute godsend to anyone with diabetes. fwiw i went to doctors at 08.00 this morning for a blood test with one of the practice nurses. One other patient was waiting when I arrived. I said to the nurse, "quiet day?" and she replied "no, we're really busy with every appointment booked." I commented on the quiet waiting room and she said they aimed to see people on time not have them sitting on chairs. A busy waiting room was a sign the appointment system had broken down. I was in and out in less than ten minutes, just how I like it.

cloughdancer
You’re talking about a sugar moniter for diabetics, not a smart watch! They’re different, but surely you know that.

MissAdventure

I don't know that much about them, mainly because her upstairs doesn't.

It's a reciver which is actually clipped into the skin of her abdomen, from whati could make out when she showed me, that is permanently monitoring blood sugar and she said cholesterol, too, but that part can't be right.
She had to have a nurse attach it to her, and have it checked, but that may be more to do with her understanding and ability to do it herself.

Mine is a Libre sensor made by Abbott. Each one lasts two weeks and I apply it myself to my upper arm. There is a very fine needle in it, and the application is very easy. I have an app on my phone which continually monitors the level of blood glucose.

To start with they thought they might not be so accurate as they are not inserted into a blood vessel, but research has shown them to be accurate.

After I was diagnosed in 1967, I went through years of not being able to test my blood, just urine which only shows if you were high several hours ago! There was no way of me or the doctors to know that I had very unpredictable levels, which only showed up around 15 or so years later, when the first finger prick test machines came out. I had literally hundreds of journeys in ambulances unconscious with drips in my arm!

Just think what all those ambulance journeys and treatment must have cost. It is also probable that it has caused a bit of brain damage to me apparently.

This sensor eliminates this; enables me to live safely on my own; means that I don't have very sore fingers from the 15+ per day tests I used to do. Just imagine how important it is for parents of young children and babies to have this monitor and alarm; as well as being essential, insulin can also kill in excess.

The use of this saves the NHS a huge amount of money (maybe to spend on cancer diagnosis and treatment, maddyfour and FriedGreenTomatoes2!).

The smart watches may well save the NHS money too for many other conditions, and increase the wellbeing of people unlucky enough to have conditions that need monitoring.

My sensor is now on prescription, but to start with I had to pay nearly £60 for each one. I think these smart watches should also be on prescription for those it will help.

I’d love to have one
I’ve got a dicky heart
If it would help I’m all for it

Doodledog

Yes, Mamie. None of this is going to be compulsory, so the naysayers can just opt out. If only they would do so quietly.

Not much fun in that though maybe?

Allira

MissAdventure

I've just thought - "her upstairs" has a sort of implant thing which monitors her diabetes levels.

Yes, one of our family members has one but it's not always accurate and is unreliable.

It is now accurate enough for the readings to be used before driving a car. One used to have to do a finger prick blood test before driving in addition to the sensor reading.

The sensor is an absolute game changer for me, a brittle type 1 diabetic, and now they also have alarms which alert you to blood glucose levels going too high or too low.

Yes, Mamie. None of this is going to be compulsory, so the naysayers can just opt out. If only they would do so quietly.

Well said Doodledog. I guess the point is that people who have experience of monitoring devices and / or the capacity to understand the potential of the technology will be in favour of them. I would expect that to be the majority of the population now.
If people don't choose to understand or would prefer to use the subject to try and smear the Labour government, rather than be positive about something that can save lives, then they are best ignored.

SparklyGrandma

In my area seeing a GP is almost impossible. What if something shows up on your smart watch, but you can’t get an appt?

The same as if it hadn’t shown up, I guess. But the point of the watches would be that because people aren’t clogging the system getting routine testing done in the surgery there will be more appointments freed up.

What if all the medics leave the NHS to go private, or emigrate to foreign shores, as was happening under the Tories? What if you had an undiagnosed condition and doctors were on strike when symptoms struck? What if there was so little investment in the NHS that you didn’t know you were ill until too late? What if you jumped the queue by paying for a diagnosis but didn’t have enough money to jump the treatment queue? What if the private diagnosis queue grew to longer than the NHS one? What if, what if?

The government is trying to make the NHS work more effectively for everyone, but every step they take is criticised and libellous accusations (eg that WS might have a vested interest in smart watches) are made, based on experience of the corruption people have got used to. They must wonder why they are bothering.

MibsXX

I wonder how many shares in these smartwatch companies Streeting has....or am I just being a tad too cynical?

Yes, I expect so.

In my area seeing a GP is almost impossible. What if something shows up on your smart watch, but you can’t get an appt?

I wonder how many shares in these smartwatch companies Streeting has....or am I just being a tad too cynical?

Yes. If you are within the NHS you will be part of university trials but buying drugs or equipment outside of those safeguards is always going to be at your own risk.

I don't know that much about them, mainly because her upstairs doesn't.

It's a reciver which is actually clipped into the skin of her abdomen, from whati could make out when she showed me, that is permanently monitoring blood sugar and she said cholesterol, too, but that part can't be right.
She had to have a nurse attach it to her, and have it checked, but that may be more to do with her understanding and ability to do it herself.

Thanks Doodledog.
As I said, I don’t know much about them, but they seemed a good idea until Allira said her friend’s one wasn’t reliable. An unreliable one would be like me taking an inhaler that didn’t deliver any medicine, useless.

Allira

maddyfour

I think the thing that measures blood sugar is marvellous for diabetics. They wear it all the time I think and it tells them if the sugar levels are right. I don’t know what it’s called or much about it, but I do know it’s a marvellous piece of equipment for diabetics. I don’t know if the NHS provides them, or people buy them themselves.

This person has ended up in hospital twice recently as there was something wrong with the implant.
It seems more problematic than the previous device she had.

My friend had to trial hers whilst she was continuing to monitor her condition manually, as her condition was very dangerous. I think they are being rolled out on the NHS to those who are safe bets, but maybe if you go private the tests are less stringent?

I have to say that I have no clinical knowledge though.

Sorry - that reply was to maddie

Either and both. My friend got hers on the NHS as her diabetes is very brittle (maybe not the right term, but it is untypical) and she's had it since childhood with lots of data to measure against the gizmo. She's probably part of a trial of some sort. If you just fancy one you have to pay, I think.

Fair? Probably not. The next stage will probably be to means-test them, so if you have a few quid put by you'll have to spend it when those who spent their money get one free, but that's how the cookie crumbles these days. As they get cheaper, which they will as those who pay for them test them out, they will be free for everyone in a decade or so.