Diabetes (Hansard, 20 June 2000)

§ Mr. Browne
To ask the Secretary of State for Health what plans he has (1) to improve awareness among health care professionals of the risk factors and symptoms of diabetes; [126513]
(2) to raise awareness of diabetes among the public, with particular reference to those in higher-risk groups. [126512]

§ Mr. Denham
We recognise the importance of raising awareness about the risk factors and symptoms of diabetes among both the public and health care professionals. Ministers have asked the United Kingdom National Screening Committee, which advises Government on all aspects of screening policy, to consider whether there is a case for the introduction of a targeted screening programme for Type 2 diabetes and, if so, how this could most effectively be achieved. The conclusions of the Committee will inform the work of the Expert Reference Group for the National Service Framework for diabetes in England.
The aims of the diabetes National Service Framework are to improve health outcomes for people with diabetes by raising the quality of services and reducing variations between them. Its scope includes prevention, identification and management of diabetes and its complications.

§ Mr. David Stewart
To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) what methods his Department will use to identify the estimated one million people living undiagnosed with diabetes;[126427]
(2) what plans he has to move resources within the NHS from treating the complications of diabetes towards prevention and early diagnosis;[126397]
(3) what plans he has to reduce the incidence of diabetic complications through prevention, early diagnosis and intensive management of the condition.[126418]

§ Mr. Denham
We recognise the importance of detecting diabetes as early as possible. Ministers have asked the United Kingdom National Screening Committee, which advises Government on all aspects of screening policy, to consider whether there is a case for the introduction of a targeted screening programme for Type 2 diabetes and, if so, how this could most effectively be achieved. The conclusions of the Committee will inform the work of the Expert Reference Group for the National Service Framework for Diabetes in England that we announced last year. The scope of the Framework includes prevention, identification and management of diabetes and its complications.