The Department of Health and NHS England have been accused of being “too slow” in the prevention and treatment of diabetes.
More than 3 million adults in England are known to have diabetes, with the rate of diagnosis increasing 5% each year.
This is putting the NHS under huge strain, as more and more people attend hospital with diabetes-related complications such as heart failure and blindness.
The cost of caring for diabetes sufferers over the age of 16 now amounts to £5.5bn a year.
Experts say the impact of diabetes could be greatly reduced, as type 2 diabetes can be prevented and even reversed with early medical intervention.
This view has been expressed in a recent report by the Public Accounts Committee, which uncovered “unacceptable variations” in the education, care and treatment of diabetes patients across the country.
More specifically, the report states that only 60% of patients are undergoing regular diabetes health checks, which can detect complications in the early stages. It also pointed towards the lack of diabetic specialists in hospitals.
“Deeply concerning”
The Public Accounts Committee said the variations in care is causing the annual cost of diabetes treatment to rise.
Meg Hillier, chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, said: “The NHS and Department of Health have been too slow in tackling diabetes, both in prevention and treatment.”
“The number of people with diabetes is increasing, as is the number of patients who develop complications. It is a very serious condition that can have a huge impact on people’s lives.”
She added that all patients must get the medical support they need, “rather than by virtue of where they live.”
The Department of Health responded by saying that a national diabetes prevention programme is being created to “help people avoid developing this devastating condition in the first place.”
A spokesmen added that “any variation in care, as this report highlights, is deeply concerning.”
Substandard diabetes care
If you have been harmed because of substandard diabetes care, please get in touch with us at Glynns Solicitors.
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