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CCGs and HWBs are ‘overlooking’ diabetes

CCGs and HWBs are ‘overlooking’ diabetes
31 May 2013



CCGS and Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs) risk overlooking the need to improve diabetes care in their local area,  according to a report from Diabetes UK.  

CCGS and Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWBs) risk overlooking the need to improve diabetes care in their local area,  according to a report from Diabetes UK.  

In a review of 50 HWBs, many did not recognise the “priority and impact of the condition” the charity claims.
Only 54% of the boards included information on the importance of the NHS Health Check for preventing type 2 diabetes in their Joint Strategic Needs Assessment. 
According to the charity, the inclusion of NHS Health Check would help to reach 850,000 people who have the condition but are undiagnosed. 
Half of the HWBs mentioned the need to improve the management of diabetes in their Joint Health and Wellbeing strategies, which set out their health priorities. 
Yet just over half (54%) of the 3 million people living with diabetes in the UK are getting the nine National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-recommended checks they need to manage their condition.
Diabetes UK claims this is one of the main reasons for the high rates of diabetes-related complications such as kidney failure and stroke, which are personally devastating and expensive to treat.
Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said, "Health and Wellbeing Boards will have huge influence over health in their local areas, and so they have a great opportunity to help tackle the rising tide of diabetes. Our analysis suggests that in some cases this is an opportunity that is being missed.
"We want to work with Health and Wellbeing Boards and Clinical Commissioning Groups to help them deliver and prioritise improving diabetes healthcare so that everyone with diabetes, and those at high risk of Type 2 diabetes, get the good quality care they need to live long healthy lives."

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