A diabetes charity has agreed to fund life-changing insulin pumps for Islanders with type 1 diabetes for the next two years before the Health Department takes over the cost.
Diabetes Jersey will provide £112,000 under a new agreement with Health and Care Jersey to fund seven closed-loop insulin pumps – wearable devices that automatically deliver insulin in response to changes in blood glucose levels.
After the initial two-year period, the Health Department will assume full responsibility for the continued provision.
The funding follows a Ministerial Decision signed by Health Minister Tom Binet, which transferred £120,000 from the E.J. Bailhache Charitable Trust to pay for additional insulin pumps.
In total, 32 new patients will begin pump treatment this year. That includes the 18 patients originally due to receive pumps, along with a further 14 funded through charitable support.
Chief of service for medicine Dr David Hopkins said: “This partnership will enable more people to benefit from a treatment that can improve blood glucose control and reduce the daily challenge of managing diabetes, bringing us closer to our ambition of delivering the highest standards of diabetes care in Jersey.”
Diabetes Jersey chair Bill O’Brien added: “Diabetes Jersey is delighted that, having collaborated with the Minister for Health and the executive team at Health and Care Jersey, this Memorandum of Understanding has now been signed by both parties.”
Senator Binet said the partnership would help more Islanders access technology that could make managing type 1 diabetes easier while improving their wellbeing and long-term health outcomes.
“I would like to thank Diabetes Jersey for its continued commitment to improving diabetes care in Jersey,” he added.
