HC Deb 23 November 2001 vol 375 cc574-5W
Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people he estimates to be suffering from diabetes in each health area; [15788]

(2) if he will make the treatment of diabetes a higher priority; [15753]

(3) when he plans to publish the national service framework for diabetes; [15755]

(4) when he will publish a statement on his plans to identify the two types of diabetes; [15757]

(5) what recent consultations he has had with people suffering from diabetes. [15756]

Jacqui Smith

An estimated 1.3 million people in England have diagnosed diabetes. A population of 100,000 would be expected to include between 2,000 and 3,000 people with diabetes.

We are committed to improving the quality of care for people with diabetes. That is why we are developing a national service framework for diabetes. We shall be publishing the framework in two stages—the standards shortly and the delivery strategy next summer. The standards will cover the prevention, identification and management of diabetes and its complications.

Ministers have met regularly with Diabetes UK, which represents people with diabetes, and I last met with it on 22 October. We have involved people with diabetes in the development of the diabetes national service framework standards, and the implementation group that will inform the development of the delivery strategy will work openly with people with diabetes and others with an interest.

Mr. Vaz

To ask the Secretary of State for Health what the expenditure on diabetes was in each year since 1996, in the Leicestershire health authority. [15752]

Jacqui Smith

It is difficult to be precise about the exact level of expenditure on diabetes, as people with this condition are cared for by so many sectors of the health services. The table details the general medical services non-discretionary expenditure incurred by Leicestershire health authority on the chronic disease management programme for diabetes in each financial year since 1996–97. It must be emphasised that these figures do not reflect the full expenditure on diabetes by the health authority during this period.

General medical service non-discretionary expenditure on CDM diabetes 1996–97 to 2000–01—Leicestershire health authority
Year £
1996–97 174,450
1997–98 189,377
1998–99 193,767
1999–2000 208,114
2000–011 215,895
1 Data for 2000–01 are provisional

Source:

Annual financial returns for health authorities