DAFNE in peril at the Wirral

I have received word today from DAFNE central that the PCT for Arrowe Park, Wirral are withdrawing all funding for DAFNE and
forcing the HCP's/Trainers to cancel the courses they have already arranged. This PCT is obviosuly VERY short-sighted and lacking in common sense !

Do any registered users know of anyone who is actually in this PCT's area. We would like to get complaints sent to the PCT about
this policy, but they really need to come from people who are actually in the PCT's area. With new government policies on choice
and openness in the NHS, the PCT should listen to all complaints and act upon them.

Its important for both DAFNE and us, as people who have benefitted from it, to give as many people as possible to also benefit from it. To do this we need to pressure any PCT that wants to make short-term decisions based on presumably short term cash flows, to reconsider.

Please post here if you know of anyone in this PCT's area who could help.

Hi! I did DAFNE at Arrowe Park & I know of a few others that have done it there also. I am totally disgusted with the decision to withdraw DAFNE from Arrowe Park & feel as if the PCT are letting me & other DAFNE trained type 1's down. My HbA1c has come right down from around 9% to 6.8% & my general health has improved as a result. I had the "it'll never happen to me" attitude towards my diabetes & complications before I did DAFNE. Now, I am a better diabetic, a more educated diabetic & perhaps most importantly a heathier diabetic. Does Wirral PCT want type 1's to be ill & suffer with more complications? I believe that my life has been saved by DAFNE. Do the people in charge of the purse strings at Wirral PCT want it on their conscience if diabetics in their care suffer??

Becky, sounds like you ARE upset by this decison. In which case what you need to do as someone who comes under the PCT’s catchment area is to email them on the address below and ask for an explanation as to why they are withdrawing funding for DAFNE and pointing out all the benefits. Also get anyone else who you know to do the same. If any of you are prepared to email the local paper about it as well even better.

The address on the PCT’s website to email is [email protected]

If you don’t get any response from that address, email [email protected]

This is the Patient Advice and Liaison Service and its their job to help you with complaints and contact the right people.

The more people that complain the better the chances they may be 'encouraged' to change their decision.

Thanks for the e-mail addresses. I'll get something sent to them this weekend.

Hi guys, I have emailed them as well - will let you know if I get a response.

Can't believe they're going to withdraw funding - why would they do that? DAFNE is brilliant and every type 1 should go on it!

Woo Claire - you go girl! xXx

Although I did the course in Sheffield I now live under the care of Arrowe Park so have sent them a letter of complaint - here's hoping they realise that the DAFNE Course is an important tool in the care of people with Type 1 like ourselves. If I hear anything back I'll let you know...

I have sent an e-mail to both e-mail addresses & I also copied in my local MP. He said that once I hear back from the complaints team he'll see how he can help.

Hi Everyone

I need to correct the original information that I supplied that started this initial debate.

I have been informed that technically the PCT did not withdraw funding at Arrowe Park Hospital, as they have never funded DAFNE in the first place. Apparently the DAFNE Programme at Arrowe Park has always been funded by 'soft money' from a Drs endowment fund, this funding came to an end and the Wirral University Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust (covering Arrowe Park Hospital and Clatterbridge General Hospital) decided to put a bid together for the PCT for structured Type 1 education for the Trust.

Wirral University Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust decided not to favour DAFNE, but to go with an alternative programme delivered at Clatterbridge Hospital called Whistle, which is based upon another type 1 education programme. It was this alternative programme that Wirral University Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust has recommended for funding rather that DAFNE.

However the actual outcome remains the same, people living on the Wirral no longer have access to DAFNE.

Therefore any letters of complaint need to be redirected to the Chief Executive of Wirral University Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust, Len Richards, at the following address:

Arrowe Park Hospital
Arrowe Park Road
Upton
Wirral
CH49 5PE

I understand that the PCT have forwarded all letters of complaint received from DAFNE Graduates to date to Wirral University Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust complaints department.

So I’m sorry for providing you all with slightly incorrect initial information in the first place; however I suspect the fact that the PCT have been altered to your concerns isn't a bad thing. Let’s see how the Wirral University Teaching Hospital Foundation Trust responds.

You are right at least the PCT has been made aware of this issue. I'm told the trust wants to issue a statement to put on this website, we await it with anticipation. I am interested to know what 'whistle' is, sadly google can't help which I suspect tells me all I need to know.
I'm sure we all want to see Diabetes Structured education available, however without knowing the details of whistle its hard to say how it compares with DAFNE.
If anyone gets a letter of response from the Trust please let us know so we can co-ordinate a response.