Diabetes delay infuriates campaigners

Campaigners for the improvement in standards of diabetes care reacted with horror this week when the Government admitted it would fail to deliver its promised National Service Framework on time.
The framework, which will set a national standard of treatment for BritainÕs leading cause of blindness, was heralded two years ago (News, October 15 1999) when the then health minister Gisela Stuart established an expert reference group and promised publication in 2001.
However, this week health minister Jacqui Smith revealed that the framework would be delayed for a year, and the implementation of the service would not be in April 2002, but at some later date.
The announcement, which was revealed during Parliamentary questions on Tuesday (October 16), comes 18 months after an Audit Commission report stated early treatment could reduce blindness in Britain by 50 per cent (News, April 14 2000).
After this weekÕs government announcement, Diabetes UK chief executive Paul Streets said: ÔThis delay is a major blow and we are extremely disappointed.
ÔIt means that we will have to wait another year for standards of diabetes care to be systematically improved.Õ
He commented that the Department of Health should take note that expectations were now higher than ever of what the framework would deliver when it was published, and the charity would be raising its concerns when its representatives met Jacqui Smith next week.
ÔPeople with diabetes and healthcare professionals have been waiting patiently for the much vaunted framework for months,Õ Mr Streets complained, and called the delay ÔdishearteningÕ.
Optics has been involved in pilot schemes to encourage people with diabetes to visit their optometrist, but it is hoped the framework will detail possible involvement in the service from the profession.