NHS doctors and nurses blame cost-cutting measures and a lack of local and national leadership for poor outcomes in diabetes patients, according to a new report published by the ABPI Pharmaceutical Diabetes Initiative (PDI).
The report, under the title A Diabetes Snapshot, collates research from clinicians, policy makers and patient representatives. The collection of 50 detailed interviews showed varying levels of a lack in confidence for diabetes care.
Amongst information collected, respondents spoke of diabetes appearing to be a lower priority caused by local and national leadership issues and tensions between GPs and commissioners due to pressure on GPs to reduce costs.
Suzie Collett, chair of the ABPI PDI and director of policy in communications and external affairs at MSD, commented: “A Diabetes Snapshot indicates GPs are already facing major issues dealing with this condition.
“This matters because keeping the growing number of diabetes patients well is not just good for them, it also saves costly acute hospital care. The draft guidelines produced by NICE unfortunately outline a short-sighted approach, ignoring and restricting the use of modern therapies, just at the moment where the NHS needs to get on top of diabetes care at every level.”
As a consequence of the report, the PDI is calling on the government to ensure that diabetes patients get the required treatment at the right time, as well as more support for GPS in managing the condition.
It is thought that if the approach to diabetes is not altered, type 1 and type 2 diabetes will cost around £39.8bn by 2035. According to a report by Diabetes UK, 24,000 people die early deaths related to the disease each year.
Dr David Miller-Jones, chair of the primary care diabetes society (PCDS), who contributed to the report, added: “GPs are now carrying more responsibility for managing diabetes than ever before. The PCDS provide education and national leadership, but our aims of supporting GPs should be strengthened be a renewed national NHS policy commitment to tackle diabetes.”