Diabetes charity in appeal for vital data from GPS

An unacceptably low number of GPS in the district are supplying vital information about their diabetes patients, says a leading charity.

Diabetes UK claims only one in 21 practices in the NHS Canterbury and Coastal Clinical Commissioning Group has provided data about sufferers’ annual diabetes checks, which are essential to help them avoid serious complications.

More than 10,000 people in the district have been diagnosed type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

The deadline for this year’s data is August 12 and the charity is now urging the CCG to take immediate action to make sure GPS act.

Data from the National Diabetes Audit 2014-2015 presents findings for the care of the four million people in England and Wales with the condition.

A Diabetes UK analysis of the statistics reveals only 4.2% of practices in Canterbury and Coastal sent in data on patient checks, which the charity says is unacceptably low and falls far below the national average of almost 60%.

Of the 221 CCGS in England, NHS Canterbury and Coastal CCG is ranked in the bottom 10% for participating in the audit.

The audit records annual checks that should be monitored and met for all patients with diabetes.

It also assesses the effectiveness of diabetes treatment, including blood pressure measurement and eye, foot and blood glucose tests.

The assessments are vital to identifying any problems early on, so any necessary action can be taken to avoid patients developing serious diabetes-related complications such as heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputations.

Jill Steaton, Diabetes UK south east regional head, said: “We are very concerned that such a small number of GP practices in Canterbury and Coastal are supplying this vital information.

“As a matter of urgency the NHS leadership in Canterbury and Coastal needs to address the reasons behind the low participation rate of its GP practices, and I would appreciate an outline of any plans it has in place to improve the proportion of practices submitting this much needed data.

“These checks are designed to flag up the risk of complications that can be associated with diabetes, making it vital that we can monitor them accurately;until this happens people with diabetes, and the NHS budget, will continue to suffer the blow of devastating and costly complications that could have been avoided.”