Diabetes tech can be life-changing. But far too many people are missing out – unable to access the tech they need to help them live well with diabetes.
At the beginning of 2022, following new guidance from the Scottish Health Technologies Group,1 the Scottish Government allocated £14.6 million for Health Boards to increase access to hybrid closed loop (HCL) tech across Scotland.
HCL tech is one of the most exciting developments in type 1 diabetes care in recent years, offering huge benefits to both health and quality of life. But too many people are still struggling to access this vital medical equipment.
We launched our Diabetes Tech Can’t Wait campaign to call on the Scottish Government and Health Boards to go further and faster in the rollout of diabetes tech, to make sure everyone who wants and is eligible for tech has access to it.
Driven by the Tech Collective – a movement of people passionate about improving access to diabetes tech in Scotland – we’ve raised vital awareness and challenged decision-makers to support our cause, but we’re not stopping there.
This report shares our learnings from the campaign, bringing together insights from people who have accessed or tried to access diabetes tech. It reflects on areas of good practice in the NHS and considers innovative approaches to prescribing tech. And it sets out clear recommendations for the Scottish Government and NHS Scotland to continue their crucial work towards delivering fair and equal access to diabetes tech.
