Shredding some light

Website aims to ease burden of diabetes for patients and NHS

A partnership between the charity Diabetes UK and pharma firms GlaxoSmithKline, sanofi-aventis and Pfizer, has launched a new website, (www.diabetesplanning.org) providing the latest information on how to manage diabetes confidently in practice.

The Strategic Alliance for Diabetes says that the advice is needed in order to deliver improved standards of care and reduce the burden of the condition, for both patients and the NHS.

Over 2 million people in the UK have been diagnosed with diabetes, while deaths from the condition are expected to rise by 23 per cent in the next ten years.

Recent research has shown that those involved in diabetes care believe that improvements in services are still needed, with many feel overwhelmed with the responsibilities that are placed on them in practice. There are also concerns that national policy is not being implemented properly, with the need for more support and information at a local level.

The website aims to support Diabetes Leads with a comprehensive resource of all the information they need to prioritise diabetes and effect change at a local level, by focusing on commissioning and how best to understand clinical care pathways.

The Strategic Alliance has developed this website to guide Diabetes Leads through the complex commissioning processes and to develop their knowledge of diabetes care pathways, said director of care and policy at Diabetes UK, Simon O'Neill.

The website is equipped with two main tools: 'commissioning' and 'clinical care pathway'. The commissioning tool provides information on how Diabetes Leads can become integral to the commissioning process and influence levels of funding allocated to diabetes services locally. It also provides practical guidance on how to make a funding bid and how to find potential funding sources.

Meanwhile, the clinical care pathway tool provides guidance on diabetes management in terms of prevention, diagnosis, initial care and continuance of care.

Successful implementation of diabetes policy will improve the care received by people with diabetes, said Dr Bob Young, chair of the Royal College of Physicians joint specialty committee for endocrinology and diabetes. However, healthcare professionals need support to deliver such policy, particularly those standards set out in the National Service Framework (NSF) for Diabetes. The Strategic Alliance initiative provides Diabetes Leads with a much needed and valuable tool, helping to invest in the future of those with diabetes.