 |
 |
 |
 |
Diabetes UK - Prevention of Renal Failure in Diabetes PatientsPlease note, this page is a summary of the full conference speech (click here for the full transcript). Simon O'NeillSimon O’Neill is acting director of
care and policy for Diabetes UK. He himself is a patient, with background
knowledge in nursing; he has first hand knowledge of the problems
faced by kidney patients, having worked on a children’s renal
ward. |
 |
Simon’s role within Diabetes UK is to ensure that people with diabetes,
and the health care professionals who work with them, are kept informed
about all aspects of diabetes care so that they can make informed choices
about their treatment. Simon spoke about the action being taken to prevent
patients with diabetes moving into renal failure. He described the two
types of diabetes – type 1 and 2. There was a diabetes NSF and
there is NICE guidance. Diabetes UK magazine had a readership of around
500,000
and produced information for the newly diagnosed. It is trying to get
to every PCT in the country. They also point people to the NKF and
the
leaflet it produces. Around 80% of people with diabetes are treated in
primary care, but unfortunately not all GP’s or the nurses who
run the clinics are diabetes specialists. Diabetes UK spends about £5
million a year on research and about £500,000 of that is spent
just on education. There is an International Diabetes Federation
and a very
active European one.
More importantly we actually deal with the condition, we have a telephone help line, which takes about 40,000 enquiries every year from people with diabetes. We also support our 180,000 members with regular publications and events. Much as you, we lobby Government and local health bodies to ensure that the best care for people with diabetes is delivered.
To sum up Diabetes UK is already doing a lot to prevent its members becoming your members. There is a still a great need for better education, better communication and putting the individual at the centre of their care. We have got the basics in place -we need to have better working relationships
Please note, this page is a summary of the full conference speech (click here for the full transcript).
Maggie
Loughran - Patient Speaker
This website is intended for UK residents only.