ACCESS TO INHALED INSULIN PRODUCTS FOR DIABETICS

Early day motion 42, tabled 6 November 2007 by Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 55 members.

That this House disagrees with the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence's technology appraisal document which proposes the restriction of access to inhaled insulin products on the NHS to patients with `a proven injection phobia diagnosed by a psychiatrist or psychologist'; is concerned that diabetes sufferers often delay treatment for as long as four years due to a fear of injections, risking the complications of heart disease, blindness and kidney failure, a situation that will only be compounded by attaching the unfortunate stigma of mental illness to those with a phobia of needles; expresses concern at the additional workload that will be placed on already overstretched NHS psychiatric services; and believes that the judgment of expert clinicians should be trusted in managing each individual patient's condition.

Signatures by party: Liberal Democrat 24, Labour 22, Conservative 5, DUP 2, Independent 1, Social Democratic and Labour Party 1.