§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health how much money has been spent on healthcare professional education with regard to diabetes over the past three years; and if he will make a statement. [143738]
§ Mr. HuttonThe Department does not collect data at a level that allows the identification of the money that has been spent on healthcare professional education with regard to diabetes.
§ Nick HarveyTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what provisions are being put in place to improve the overall competency of diabetes education of primary care and generalist staff; and if he will make a statement. [143739]
§ Mr. HuttonThe long-term conditions care group workforce team (LTCCGWT) was established two years ago. Part of its remit is to identify the workforce requirements for diabetes services. To help support this activity, the LTCCGWT in the summer of 2002, commissioned Skills for Health to develop competence frameworks for diabetes. The frameworks are intended to describe the quality of service a person with diabetes needs, whether that service is provided by a diabetes specialist nurse, a practice nurse, a general practitioner, a dietician, or any of the other professionals who provide diabetes care. They cover the key activities of
reviewing and investigating the health of adults with diabetesagreeing, implementing and supporting care plans
In addition, Skills for Health is also developing national occupational standards for diabetes retinopathy screening. Work to develop the competence frameworks will be concluded in spring 2004 with the development of draft national occupational standards for diabetes retinopathy screening being achieved during summer 2004.