"Insulin Pump and Supply Issues"

I have have Type One diabetes and have been using a certain kind of insulin pump since February 2012. My pump was due to be replaced in February 2022 and the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast have not yet been able to provide me with the pump I have requested or a suitable alternative.

In addition, I have been trying to contact Lurgan Hospital to get consumables for my out of warranty Insulin Pump for the past 3 weeks. The phone line is meant to be staffed from 1-4pm Monday-Friday. I have left at least 5 messages requesting consumables and a ring back. To date there has been no response. For the past 2 weeks the mailbox has been full, meaning no further voicemails can be left. I am now using a supply of pump consumables that a friend gave me when clearing their store cupboard. If it wasn’t for the fact that I extend the use of the pump cartridge from the recommended 3 days to 7 days and the cannula from 72 hours to 90 hours I would be without consumables for this life maintaining equipment for my out of warranty pump. 

As someone who works in the NHS I don’t complain about the services provided as I am very aware of the pressures on the service. However, this experience has now gone past the point of being mildly inconvenient to being disruptive to my self management. I have worked incredibly hard for the past 30 years of having Type One diabetes to not develop any complications so that I can continue to work. My most recent HbA1c was 43, my Time In Range is approximately 80% and I have so far avoided complications to my eyesight, heart, kidneys and digits thanks in no small part to the available technology. Since diagnosis, I have never been admitted to a hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis and have not had any admissions for severe hypoglycaemia outside of pregnancy. 

I would appreciate a response as I do feel like I am shouting into a void. It really isn’t acceptable that my Type One friends are offering me consumables from their personal supplies.