cpap expence

[stuart]

Just a bit of info. In my area these machines are not available on the NHS, as unfortunately we are not one of the areas that have been supplied in the NHS postcode lottery.

I went to the company RESMED, and met with a young lady named SUE WATTS. Now as i explained in my other Messages, this company is the only one that was willing to help.

Well i ended up as a guinee pig, they are now doing finance on a 10 month payment scheme, @ 0% interest. so i was their first person to Apply. went there yesterday(16/8/07) and met with them, myself and myife travelled about 96 miles to their offices and the same back home. Filled in all the forms, and guess what?.................as we are on benefits and not working due to my other disability, which i am signed off for life, on a guarenteed income, the FINANCE company said no. So not only waisting a trip and money, I still dont have the life saving equipment.

Never mind, It wasnt RESMEDS fault, they were most helpfull and i could not find fault with them. It was there finance company.

Well time to tighten the money belt and start saving for this equipment........i hope that this info does not put people off from going to resmed, and applying for this finance, your application will probably turn out different

thanx for all your replys to my other messages,

[Joe McManus]

Oh what a shame, sorry to hear that Stuart. It sounded like a great deal for you, I was actually wondering when you were going down there. Shame it fell through at the last hurdle.

I know that Respironics does offer a payment plan to certain groups (truckers via their Stay Awake Stay Alive program), as mentioned on the osaonline.com website. It might be worth a ring to them to see if that's possible for you. 0800 1300 840 and 0870 740 88 35 are their numbers for CPAP.

[MoutheBreather]

I've seen basic masks on eBay for as little as £35. Maybe you can loan the £250 for a machine? Or put it on a credit card? In the US they sometimes sell second hand machines. Not sure how that would work with settings and hygiene but could be a good bargain.

[katiemcewan]

Oh bummer, I hope you find a way to get one soon!

[mart9012]

Im horrified to read this! The Government have been pushing to get sleepy drivers treated for their OSA and there is even legislation forcing drivers to notify the DVLA... Is there no way to hassle the NHS? Here in Oxfordshire I didn't have to wait, it took only 3 months from seeing my GP to receiving my free machine and support. This is an appalling situation.

[chelseauk]

Nice seem to be due to report on CPAP in January.

See http://guidance.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=350198

I've not read it all !

But hopefully they will green light CPAP and it will become easier to get.

But i do hope you dropped a note of complaint to your MP - for what that's worth !

It's crazy though CPAP machine and mask £700 and some maintenance cost of some drugs £20K per year.

[Joe McManus]

Nice seem to be due to report on CPAP in January.

See http://guidance.nice.org.uk/page.aspx?o=350198

I've not read it all !

I have, almost. It's probably the best news for the UK since CPAP was invented. I blogged some of my thoughts here but it's worthy of more discussion. Last week was the final committee meeting. Fingers crossed the planned recommendation held up.

Some of the outcomes I predict:

- More doctors familiar with CPAP, now the government has educated itself on the matter.
- Threshold for prescribing CPAP will be lowered, more people will be told CPAP will benefit them.
- More doctors and more patients will ultimately result in more awareness. Hopefully also more patient and carer feedback which may result in more innovation.
- More demand may result in lower costs.

Unfortunately, what looks like won't be happening:

- I can't see any mention of allocating more funds. With more potential patients and the same funds, waiting lists will only increase.
- Same with qualified staff. The NHS is cash strapped enough as it is and other disorders and more acute diseases are much higher on the agenda.
- They plan to recommend sleep lab diagnosis and overlook home screening for the time being. Without more sleep breathing disorder detecting technology equipped hospital beds insisting on clinical diagnosis whilst expecting more patients will add to the current bottleneck.

To sum it up:

Good = more awareness, more patients 'recognised'
Bad = same funds, same number of beds, longer waiting lists

I hope I'm wrong though and that I missed that one paragraph that spoke of billions of pounds cash injection.

[acebass]

Granted, it will increase the number of sleep clinic referrals, but it will also mean that PCT's that currently refuse treatment will have to provide patients in their area with a service and so spread the cost around instead of forcing patients to see clinics in other areas and dumping the cost on them or refusing to treat them.

[Joe McManus]

Granted, it will increase the number of sleep clinic referrals, but it will also mean that PCT's that currently refuse treatment will have to provide patients in their area with a service and so spread the cost around instead of forcing patients to see clinics in other areas and dumping the cost on them or refusing to treat them.

You'd hope so. But more referrals without more clinics, or more beds in clinics, doesn't do anything to improve the current waiting lists. Then post-diagnosis, on the same PCT budget if indeed they have to spread it around, I doubt they will be able to fulfill demand. It may improve from 'no cover' to 'some cover' but that still means queues.

[katiemcewan]

Stuart, have you sourced any equipment yet?

I hope the NHS will get more funds for more machines and masks. And staff I guess.

[Sweet Sue]

What a horrid situation.
We went to the GP & he agreed to refer to consultant.
Asked if husband wanted to go to local hospital at Ipswich (No sleep Clinc) or to the next nearest place Norwich which has a sleep clinic. We went to Norwich!!!
Can you not get a referral to another area? (This is now your right for choice?)
We had to cross the boarder from Suffolk to Norfolk.
Do hope you get some help soon.

[acebass]

Stuart, have you sourced any equipment yet?

I hope the NHS will get more funds for more machines and masks. And staff I guess.

One of the areas that the Sleep Apnoea trust spend the money they raise is in training for Sleep Nurses but yes I think more funding is still required to get the staff availability in the first place...

[stuart]

just an update.............i have still no joy with equipment but there may be alight on the horrizon...............will post more when i know more