MPs call for renewed NHS and government action on diabetes

A Commons select committee has called on the NHS and government to address systemic failings in the way diabetes prevention and treatment is currently approached.

The Public Accounts Committee has pointed out "unacceptable" variations in the take-up of education programmes, delivery of recommended care processes, achievement of treatment standards and in outcomes for diabetes patients.

Although progress has been made since the committee's last examination, geographic variations across clinical commissioning groups still persist, as do variations between different groups of diabetes patients.

As such, the number of diabetes patients experiencing complications continues to rise, while diabetes specialist staffing levels in hospitals are not increasing to keep pace with the growing percentage of beds occupied by diabetes patients.

The committee therefore called for swift action on numerous fronts, including the use of data to identify areas that are performing poorly and the establishment of a timetable to ramp up participation in a national diabetes prevention programme.

Meg Hillier MP, chair of the Public Accounts Committee, said: "There's clear evidence of what works and as a priority action must be taken to ensure best practice in treatment and education is adopted across the board."