Recent Posts - DAFNE Online

Nov 12, 2016

JayBee 582 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE

To confirm, the CCG of my area have described the new education course as "our new expanded Intermediate Diabetes service" which doesn't describe much, and my current lead DSN is telling me that the new course is apparently like BERTIE.

Also, the Chief Executive of the CCG has told me that it is not under DAFNE:
~ after a diabetes service review, it was apparent that DAFNE had very low levels of uptake and that the delivery of care from single DSN running clinics in primary care was well received by patients and GPs. The CE went on to say that there were challenges due to capacity being restricted so patients' benefits were limited under the current system.
~ To address these issues, the CCG has started working with the James Paget Hospital Foundation Trust to develop a new model of care to accommodate the single DSN in primary care better to provide more benefit to patients. The idea being that they're closer to patients' homes.
~ These changes include incorporating a structured education programme that is not DAFNE, but it will incorporate themes and subject matter that is covered by DAFNE. Support will also be available to DAFNE graduates in order to "maintain improvements". He goes on to say that the new education programme will contain the same content with regard to dose adjustment and diet but will allow for some greater flexibility in the manner of delivery so more patients can benefit from the same learning outcomes I described in my initial correspondence to them which Peter helped me write.

I personally am not thrilled about these changes at all considering my GP surgery have always directed me to my DSN team at the hospital because they have continuously admitted that they don't know how to help their patients with type 1 diabetes with their issues due to being too different to patients with type 2 diabetes. Based on correspondence I have had with my lead DSN and new hospital consultant, it's quite apparent that they're keen to wash their hands of me and be super dismissive, instead of being helpful with dealing with my raised concerns - including my GP surgery's track record and these planned changes from the CCG coming into play.

Nov 12, 2016

Peter 103 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE

marke said:
I have answered on another thread but a quick statement. The replacement course is called DAFNEPlus and they have only just been awarded the grant to run it. Simon and I are involved as Technical Patients because we run DAFNEOnline. I am happy to share information on it, the people heading it are not secretive and want patient involvement. Hopefully things will start developing with it over the next few months,

Mark, I think JayBee is referring to a replacement course that James Paget are developing rather than to DAFNEplus. As with your case, they are saying that it will be based on DAFNE.

You correctly say that it the financial cost of participating in DAFNE that is the main reason for it being dropped. There is also a degree of "not invented here" amongst the medical staff, particularly when staff change in a DAFNE centre.

The sad fact is that, in addition to James Paget in Norfolk, which started this thread, there are three other services currently under threat:

Royal Berkshire in Reading
South West Essex
NHS Lanarkshire

This is known as each service has to give notice of their intention to terminate their DAFNE service to the Central DAFNE team.

In cases where this happens, the DAFNE Graduate Group will then look to confirm this information through Freedom of Information requests to the CCGs and Trusts involved. This then enables a campaign to be started to try an change the decision, as the information is then in the public domain.

JayBee and I have been doing this for James Paget over the last 6 months, but without success (so far). The DGG are now ready to start campaigning on the other centres listed above. If you're a patient at one of these and would be willing to help in a campaign against the decision, then please contact me through this thread, by a persoanl message in dafneonline or by e-mail at [email protected].

Many thanks.

Nov 11, 2016

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE

marke said:
sadly its not about attendance its about finance. The centres have to pay the DAFNE Programme fees for being allowed to run the course. Many centres have decided to invent their own courses that they don't have to pay for. In Kent its called KATIE ( Kent Adult Type 1 Education, I think ) and is similar to DAFNE. It has a waiting list of about 18 months. Quite a number of centres have gone solo over the last few years. A national programme would be better but in an organisation like the NHS bureaucracy trumps everything else, so Centres fall away without any real change in approach. But hey enough of my bitter twisted views

I will always be loyal to DAFNE but I suppose as long as the education is getting out there and its as good or better than DAFNE its not the end of the world....

What's to stop DAFNE trained HCPs educating people themselves...?

Is there any legal issues?

Nov 11, 2016

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Printing the Sick-day Rules

There's no rush, take your time...

Nov 11, 2016

Peter 103 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Would you like to help redevelop the DAFNE course?

This request has now been closed following the response from this post and a parallel e-mail sent to the members of the DAFNE Graduate Group.

Thank you to all of those who have responded to our request for additional patient input into the
DAFNE Plus Patient Advisory Groups. Weâ€™ve had a phenomenal response and as such, we are not
looking for any further input at this time.

We will be in touch with those who have shown an interest already to find out more about their
experience of DAFNE and provide more information about the project and potential involvement going
forward (unfortunately, due to resource limitations, we canâ€™t involve everyone).

Once again, thank you for your support.

Nov 10, 2016

marke 643 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE

I have answered on another thread but a quick statement. The replacement course is called DAFNEPlus and they have only just been awarded the grant to run it. Simon and I are involved as Technical Patients because we run DAFNEOnline. I am happy to share information on it, the people heading it are not secretive and want patient involvement. Hopefully things will start developing with it over the next few months,

Nov 10, 2016

JayBee 582 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE

I've heard they have a replacement course planned but getting info about it has been like getting blood from a stone. It's like no one knows what's happening and some HCPs are now being extremely dismissive towards my concerns, and being very anti-DAFNE. The fact I'm DAFNE trained is actually something my hospital is using against me so they don't have to help me. They're dropping DAFNE and treating patients like that... How unprofessional. It's understandable why low uptake would be a thought but like Marke has said, it definitely looks more to be about finances. Patients are just numbers is all I'm getting from this.

Nov 10, 2016

marke 643 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE

sadly its not about attendance its about finance. The centres have to pay the DAFNE Programme fees for being allowed to run the course. Many centres have decided to invent their own courses that they don't have to pay for. In Kent its called KATIE ( Kent Adult Type 1 Education, I think ) and is similar to DAFNE. It has a waiting list of about 18 months. Quite a number of centres have gone solo over the last few years. A national programme would be better but in an organisation like the NHS bureaucracy trumps everything else, so Centres fall away without any real change in approach. But hey enough of my bitter twisted views Twisted Evil

Nov 10, 2016

marke 643 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Printing the Sick-day Rules

yes it has but.... they wouldn't let us have a copy to put on the site. After 2 years of complaining to everyone who would listen we finally got the 2014 copies of the 5 day course, 5x1 day course and pump course. All I have to do now is convert them into a format compatible with the site. It would be easier if they tracked changes between versions but they don't. I hope to have the 5 day course on the site by xmas and the others as soon as I can get them done.....

Nov 10, 2016

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE

I am shocked that your hospital is thinking about getting rid of it...

Is this because there has not been a good uptake of patients attending...?

Having the knowledge DAFNE provides will change lives....

Nov 10, 2016

novorapidboi26 1,816 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Printing the Sick-day Rules

Has the course handbook not been updated since 2008?

Nov 7, 2016

Alan 49 280 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Printing the Sick-day Rules

Apologies Mark - I didn't want to cause problems.

Nov 7, 2016

JayBee 582 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Would you like to help redevelop the DAFNE course?

Sadly I don't live anywhere close to either of those specified locations. :/ Apparently there are people who struggled at my hospital but I know you already know that.

Best wishes to the project.

Nov 6, 2016

sjohno 37 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Would you like to help redevelop the DAFNE course?

As much as I would love to help out I just don't meet the guidelines requested as DAFNE changed my life lol. I live in between Ashbourne and Derby and would have loved to help out. Smile

May I respectfully suggest that maybe you post this on the Type 1 Diabetes forum as there are several people on there who have a very negative view on DAFNE.

thanks and regards

Sarah

Nov 6, 2016

marke 643 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Printing the Sick-day Rules

Hi,
It is impossible to stop people doing screen grabs, I 'think' the NHS legal people understand this, we were told to protect the document as much as possible and that is what we have done. There will always ways around anything....

Nov 6, 2016

Peter 103 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Would you like to help redevelop the DAFNE course?

I've been asked to post the following from the DAFNEplus Research team:

A research team, led by Professor Simon Heller (Professor of Clinical Diabetes at the University of Sheffield), are currently working on a research project called DAFNEplus, with the aim of improving the current DAFNE course to help graduates better manage their condition over the longer term.

We are looking to introduce behaviour change techniques and a model of follow up support, combined with new technology, into the DAFNE programme. We will be testing this out at some diabetes centres next year, ahead of a full trial later in the study. Patients have been working with the team to help redevelop DAFNE and will continue to provide input throughout the course of the research, but weâ€™re looking to get more patients involved in our Patient Advisory Groups (based in Sheffield and London) and hoped you may be able to help!

If you are:
a DAFNE graduate who has struggled with the course (either during and / or in maintaining the skills afterwards) and have a HbA1c over 8.5% / 69 mmol/mol; or
a type 1 diabetes patient who has not yet been on DAFNE
then we are interested in hearing from you!

You will also need to live in the UK and preferably in or near either Sheffield or London â€“ we will have fairly regular face-to-face meetings of the groups over the next 5 years, although you donâ€™t have to attend them all and we can be flexible to your needs. You will be paid for your involvement with the Advisory Group.

If you are interested in being involved or have any questions then please contact Dan Beever, Patient and Public Involvement Research Assistant on the DAFNEplus study ([email protected] / 0114 2220820) as soon as possible. You can also find out more about the progress of the study so far on the DAFNEplus blog - https://dafneplusresearch.wordpress.com/.

Nov 5, 2016

JayBee 582 posts

Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE

Is anyone else on here campaigning to stop their hospital from dropping DAFNE after a CCG decision based on funding, and changing it for their own-made GP based structured education course?

I have been for the last 8 months, contacting both my hospital and the CCG, and the responses from some of the HCPs have been outrageous.

My own hospital describe their new alternative course as being like BERTIE which does not meet NICE guidelines. BERTIE has no outcome profile as it is not audited and so neither the course delivered, nor the results obtained, are predictable, therefore not NICE guidelines recommended ( as per point 1.3.4: The outcomes are audited regularly. [new 2015] ). The DAFNE audit, which is the main reason for DAFNE's extra cost, does give the benefit of providing a known, cost saving outcome.

If there was any one else in a similar situation, are you having any better luck getting your hospital or CCG to understand the huge mistake they're making?

Thanks in advance.

Nov 4, 2016

Warwick 430 posts

Topic: General Discussion / ICE

Wow. I had them sent to me in New Zealand and Australia and no taxes or custom charges at all. I don't believe that we have any charges/tax to pay in either country unless the item is worth more than $400 (NZ) or $1000 (Australia) which the Road ID certainly isn't. I forgot about those charges from when I used to live in the UK. Perhaps RoadID should look at setting up a local UK operation.

Nov 4, 2016

SimonC 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / ICE

Warwick said:
+1 for the Road ID. I have had once since a few weeks after my diagnosis in 2010 and it is always on me. The straps last ages, usually a couple of years at least.

Hi Warwick - I agree the RoadID is quite a good bit of kit - and at a reasonable price - although I didn't like getting stung by a)customs and then b) Royal mail for extra payments. I don't mind too much the Customs charge, but I did object to Royal Mail charging me Â£8 just to tell me Customs had slapped Â£5.25 tax and by the way - you have to collect it.

To be fair I asked RoadID to see if they could add the customs charges into their overseas costs - in the same way Amazon US do if you buy from the US Amazon site, and they not only gave me a small refund, but also did acknowledged it was something they needed to look at.

Thanks for the post.

Nov 4, 2016

SimonC 78 posts

Topic: General Discussion / ICE

HelenP said:
Hi Simon,

My son is an ambo and he tells me they always check the (mobile) phone (any mobile phone) as lots of information available especially with numbers listed as: HOME, WORK, GP as well as ICE.
Helen

Hi Helen - Thanks for the post - thats why I mentioned the ICE Apps - as its hard to check the info on a phone if it is locked and the person is unable to unlock it - IOS does have an inbuilt Medical page accessible from the lock screen - but I suspect that most people don't know it is there and so don't fill it in to make it available, and most wouldn't know how to get to it from the lock screen.

The Road ID App is quite good - but there are many others, and in IOS, having seen how the Road ID does it, you can do the same thing from Notes - just open up a new Note page, press return a few times to get the start of the info below the lock screen clock, type what you want others to see - and then take a screen shot of the note page (home and power together), and set that photo to be your lock screen page - and Bob is your Aunty - the data you want available is viewable on the lock screen.

This works, but isn't very neat, the proper Apps look a lot better as they are formatted nicely.

Your son - and others, can treat people so much better if they have this sort of info - which is why 'ambo' staff - and other blue light services look for medical alert bracelets - and more recently phone screens. Ambulance staff do a great job - and we can help them do an even better one by giving them information they can use.

Nov 12, 2016 JayBee 582 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE To confirm, the CCG of my area have described the new education course as "our new expanded Intermediate Diabetes service" which doesn't describe much, and my current lead DSN is telling me that the new course is apparently like BERTIE. Also, the Chief Executive of the CCG has told me that it is not under DAFNE: ~ after a diabetes service review, it was apparent that DAFNE had very low levels of uptake and that the delivery of care from single DSN running clinics in primary care was well received by patients and GPs. The CE went on to say that there were challenges due to capacity being restricted so patients' benefits were limited under the current system. ~ To address these issues, the CCG has started working with the James Paget Hospital Foundation Trust to develop a new model of care to accommodate the single DSN in primary care better to provide more benefit to patients. The idea being that they're closer to patients' homes. ~ These changes include incorporating a structured education programme that is not DAFNE, but it will incorporate themes and subject matter that is covered by DAFNE. Support will also be available to DAFNE graduates in order to "maintain improvements". He goes on to say that the new education programme will contain the same content with regard to dose adjustment and diet but will allow for some greater flexibility in the manner of delivery so more patients can benefit from the same learning outcomes I described in my initial correspondence to them which Peter helped me write. I personally am not thrilled about these changes at all considering my GP surgery have always directed me to my DSN team at the hospital because they have continuously admitted that they don't know how to help their patients with type 1 diabetes with their issues due to being too different to patients with type 2 diabetes. Based on correspondence I have had with my lead DSN and new hospital consultant, it's quite apparent that they're keen to wash their hands of me and be super dismissive, instead of being helpful with dealing with my raised concerns - including my GP surgery's track record and these planned changes from the CCG coming into play.

Nov 12, 2016 Peter 103 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE marke said: I have answered on another thread but a quick statement. The replacement course is called DAFNEPlus and they have only just been awarded the grant to run it. Simon and I are involved as Technical Patients because we run DAFNEOnline. I am happy to share information on it, the people heading it are not secretive and want patient involvement. Hopefully things will start developing with it over the next few months, Mark, I think JayBee is referring to a replacement course that James Paget are developing rather than to DAFNEplus. As with your case, they are saying that it will be based on DAFNE. You correctly say that it the financial cost of participating in DAFNE that is the main reason for it being dropped. There is also a degree of "not invented here" amongst the medical staff, particularly when staff change in a DAFNE centre. The sad fact is that, in addition to James Paget in Norfolk, which started this thread, there are three other services currently under threat: Royal Berkshire in Reading South West Essex NHS Lanarkshire This is known as each service has to give notice of their intention to terminate their DAFNE service to the Central DAFNE team. In cases where this happens, the DAFNE Graduate Group will then look to confirm this information through Freedom of Information requests to the CCGs and Trusts involved. This then enables a campaign to be started to try an change the decision, as the information is then in the public domain. JayBee and I have been doing this for James Paget over the last 6 months, but without success (so far). The DGG are now ready to start campaigning on the other centres listed above. If you're a patient at one of these and would be willing to help in a campaign against the decision, then please contact me through this thread, by a persoanl message in dafneonline or by e-mail at [email protected]. Many thanks.

Nov 11, 2016 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE marke said: sadly its not about attendance its about finance. The centres have to pay the DAFNE Programme fees for being allowed to run the course. Many centres have decided to invent their own courses that they don't have to pay for. In Kent its called KATIE ( Kent Adult Type 1 Education, I think ) and is similar to DAFNE. It has a waiting list of about 18 months. Quite a number of centres have gone solo over the last few years. A national programme would be better but in an organisation like the NHS bureaucracy trumps everything else, so Centres fall away without any real change in approach. But hey enough of my bitter twisted views I will always be loyal to DAFNE but I suppose as long as the education is getting out there and its as good or better than DAFNE its not the end of the world.... What's to stop DAFNE trained HCPs educating people themselves...? Is there any legal issues?

Nov 11, 2016 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Printing the Sick-day Rules There's no rush, take your time...

Nov 11, 2016 Peter 103 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Would you like to help redevelop the DAFNE course? This request has now been closed following the response from this post and a parallel e-mail sent to the members of the DAFNE Graduate Group. Thank you to all of those who have responded to our request for additional patient input into the DAFNE Plus Patient Advisory Groups. Weâ€™ve had a phenomenal response and as such, we are not looking for any further input at this time. We will be in touch with those who have shown an interest already to find out more about their experience of DAFNE and provide more information about the project and potential involvement going forward (unfortunately, due to resource limitations, we canâ€™t involve everyone). Once again, thank you for your support.

Nov 10, 2016 marke 643 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE I have answered on another thread but a quick statement. The replacement course is called DAFNEPlus and they have only just been awarded the grant to run it. Simon and I are involved as Technical Patients because we run DAFNEOnline. I am happy to share information on it, the people heading it are not secretive and want patient involvement. Hopefully things will start developing with it over the next few months,

Nov 10, 2016 JayBee 582 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE I've heard they have a replacement course planned but getting info about it has been like getting blood from a stone. It's like no one knows what's happening and some HCPs are now being extremely dismissive towards my concerns, and being very anti-DAFNE. The fact I'm DAFNE trained is actually something my hospital is using against me so they don't have to help me. They're dropping DAFNE and treating patients like that... How unprofessional. It's understandable why low uptake would be a thought but like Marke has said, it definitely looks more to be about finances. Patients are just numbers is all I'm getting from this.

Nov 10, 2016 marke 643 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE sadly its not about attendance its about finance. The centres have to pay the DAFNE Programme fees for being allowed to run the course. Many centres have decided to invent their own courses that they don't have to pay for. In Kent its called KATIE ( Kent Adult Type 1 Education, I think ) and is similar to DAFNE. It has a waiting list of about 18 months. Quite a number of centres have gone solo over the last few years. A national programme would be better but in an organisation like the NHS bureaucracy trumps everything else, so Centres fall away without any real change in approach. But hey enough of my bitter twisted views

Nov 10, 2016 marke 643 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Printing the Sick-day Rules yes it has but.... they wouldn't let us have a copy to put on the site. After 2 years of complaining to everyone who would listen we finally got the 2014 copies of the 5 day course, 5x1 day course and pump course. All I have to do now is convert them into a format compatible with the site. It would be easier if they tracked changes between versions but they don't. I hope to have the 5 day course on the site by xmas and the others as soon as I can get them done.....

Nov 10, 2016 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE I am shocked that your hospital is thinking about getting rid of it... Is this because there has not been a good uptake of patients attending...? Having the knowledge DAFNE provides will change lives....

Nov 10, 2016 novorapidboi26 1,816 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Printing the Sick-day Rules Has the course handbook not been updated since 2008?

Nov 7, 2016 Alan 49 280 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Printing the Sick-day Rules Apologies Mark - I didn't want to cause problems.

Nov 7, 2016 JayBee 582 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Would you like to help redevelop the DAFNE course? Sadly I don't live anywhere close to either of those specified locations. :/ Apparently there are people who struggled at my hospital but I know you already know that. Best wishes to the project.

Nov 6, 2016 sjohno 37 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Would you like to help redevelop the DAFNE course? As much as I would love to help out I just don't meet the guidelines requested as DAFNE changed my life lol. I live in between Ashbourne and Derby and would have loved to help out. May I respectfully suggest that maybe you post this on the Type 1 Diabetes forum as there are several people on there who have a very negative view on DAFNE. thanks and regards Sarah

Nov 6, 2016 marke 643 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Printing the Sick-day Rules Hi, It is impossible to stop people doing screen grabs, I 'think' the NHS legal people understand this, we were told to protect the document as much as possible and that is what we have done. There will always ways around anything....

Nov 6, 2016 Peter 103 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Would you like to help redevelop the DAFNE course? I've been asked to post the following from the DAFNEplus Research team: A research team, led by Professor Simon Heller (Professor of Clinical Diabetes at the University of Sheffield), are currently working on a research project called DAFNEplus, with the aim of improving the current DAFNE course to help graduates better manage their condition over the longer term. We are looking to introduce behaviour change techniques and a model of follow up support, combined with new technology, into the DAFNE programme. We will be testing this out at some diabetes centres next year, ahead of a full trial later in the study. Patients have been working with the team to help redevelop DAFNE and will continue to provide input throughout the course of the research, but weâ€™re looking to get more patients involved in our Patient Advisory Groups (based in Sheffield and London) and hoped you may be able to help! If you are: a DAFNE graduate who has struggled with the course (either during and / or in maintaining the skills afterwards) and have a HbA1c over 8.5% / 69 mmol/mol; or a type 1 diabetes patient who has not yet been on DAFNE then we are interested in hearing from you! You will also need to live in the UK and preferably in or near either Sheffield or London â€“ we will have fairly regular face-to-face meetings of the groups over the next 5 years, although you donâ€™t have to attend them all and we can be flexible to your needs. You will be paid for your involvement with the Advisory Group. If you are interested in being involved or have any questions then please contact Dan Beever, Patient and Public Involvement Research Assistant on the DAFNEplus study ([email protected] / 0114 2220820) as soon as possible. You can also find out more about the progress of the study so far on the DAFNEplus blog - https://dafneplusresearch.wordpress.com/.

Nov 5, 2016 JayBee 582 posts	Topic: General Discussion / Campaigning Against Hospitals Dropping DAFNE Is anyone else on here campaigning to stop their hospital from dropping DAFNE after a CCG decision based on funding, and changing it for their own-made GP based structured education course? I have been for the last 8 months, contacting both my hospital and the CCG, and the responses from some of the HCPs have been outrageous. My own hospital describe their new alternative course as being like BERTIE which does not meet NICE guidelines. BERTIE has no outcome profile as it is not audited and so neither the course delivered, nor the results obtained, are predictable, therefore not NICE guidelines recommended ( as per point 1.3.4: The outcomes are audited regularly. [new 2015] ). The DAFNE audit, which is the main reason for DAFNE's extra cost, does give the benefit of providing a known, cost saving outcome. If there was any one else in a similar situation, are you having any better luck getting your hospital or CCG to understand the huge mistake they're making? Thanks in advance.

Nov 4, 2016 Warwick 430 posts	Topic: General Discussion / ICE Wow. I had them sent to me in New Zealand and Australia and no taxes or custom charges at all. I don't believe that we have any charges/tax to pay in either country unless the item is worth more than $400 (NZ) or $1000 (Australia) which the Road ID certainly isn't. I forgot about those charges from when I used to live in the UK. Perhaps RoadID should look at setting up a local UK operation.

Nov 4, 2016 SimonC 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / ICE Warwick said: +1 for the Road ID. I have had once since a few weeks after my diagnosis in 2010 and it is always on me. The straps last ages, usually a couple of years at least. Hi Warwick - I agree the RoadID is quite a good bit of kit - and at a reasonable price - although I didn't like getting stung by a)customs and then b) Royal mail for extra payments. I don't mind too much the Customs charge, but I did object to Royal Mail charging me Â£8 just to tell me Customs had slapped Â£5.25 tax and by the way - you have to collect it. To be fair I asked RoadID to see if they could add the customs charges into their overseas costs - in the same way Amazon US do if you buy from the US Amazon site, and they not only gave me a small refund, but also did acknowledged it was something they needed to look at. Thanks for the post.

Nov 4, 2016 SimonC 78 posts	Topic: General Discussion / ICE HelenP said: Hi Simon, My son is an ambo and he tells me they always check the (mobile) phone (any mobile phone) as lots of information available especially with numbers listed as: HOME, WORK, GP as well as ICE. Helen Hi Helen - Thanks for the post - thats why I mentioned the ICE Apps - as its hard to check the info on a phone if it is locked and the person is unable to unlock it - IOS does have an inbuilt Medical page accessible from the lock screen - but I suspect that most people don't know it is there and so don't fill it in to make it available, and most wouldn't know how to get to it from the lock screen. The Road ID App is quite good - but there are many others, and in IOS, having seen how the Road ID does it, you can do the same thing from Notes - just open up a new Note page, press return a few times to get the start of the info below the lock screen clock, type what you want others to see - and then take a screen shot of the note page (home and power together), and set that photo to be your lock screen page - and Bob is your Aunty - the data you want available is viewable on the lock screen. This works, but isn't very neat, the proper Apps look a lot better as they are formatted nicely. Your son - and others, can treat people so much better if they have this sort of info - which is why 'ambo' staff - and other blue light services look for medical alert bracelets - and more recently phone screens. Ambulance staff do a great job - and we can help them do an even better one by giving them information they can use.