Diabetics Let Down by New Health Bill

Wed, 12 Oct 2011
A new health bill does not take into account the health service needs of diabetics .

The Diabetes charity, Diabetes UK, says that diabetics could "fall through gaps in care" because of the way services will be reorganised under the Health and Social Care Bill, according to Diabetes UK.

It wants a statutory requirement for the new NHS Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups to report annually on how they will fulfil their duties to integrate services between healthcare providers.

In particular, it wants Monitor, which regulates NHS foundation trusts, to be made to prioritise integration over competition - a wish cited by many more in the health world.

Barbara Young, chief executive of the charity, said: "People with diabetes already need at least 14 different NHS services. Getting it right means they can lead long and healthy lives. Getting it wrong could mean amputation, kidney failure, blindness and a shorter life.

"These proposals could create a more complex web of care with insufficient safeguards and a lack of accountability."

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