HC Deb 26 May 2004 vol 421 cc1645-6W
Mrs. Iris Robinson

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland which of the Crest recommendations on diabetes care(a) have been implemented and (b) will be implemented within the next 12 months. [175215]

Angela Smith

The Crest Taskforce report on the development of services for people with diabetes contains a wide range of recommendations covering the full spectrum of the condition, from screening for people with a higher risk of developing the disease to the prevention and treatment of diabetes. The report acknowledged that implementation of the framework would require a time frame of 5–10 years.

The Department has allocated an additional £1 million for the development of diabetes services in 2004–05. Priorities for Action requires Health and Social Services Boards to take forward the recommendations of the Taskforce, on a prioritised basis, within a framework to be agreed with the Department by the end of May 2004.