NHS Wales has a new mandate to improve the care and treatment of people with diabetes as the Welsh Government launches a new quality statement.
With diabetes affecting approximately 7% of the population in Wales, and that figure projected to rise to 10% by 2035, the health service has been tasked with identifying those at most risk of developing the condition and enrolling them into remission services to try and reverse the development.
More than 190,000 people in Wales have type 2 diabetes and the Welsh Government is investing £1m a year into the pre-diabetes prevention programme which will come under the banner of the Health Weight Healthy Wales Strategy.
While meeting patients who have accessed the remission and education services, Welsh health minister Eluned Morgan explained that the new quality statement sets out the “national priorities for service development” with a particular focus on prevention.
The minister also highlighted the need for changes “beyond the NHS” and how everyone needs to “do their part”.
“We need to make big systemic changes to create environments which encourage people to be more active,” said Morgan.
Overall, the Welsh Government say the new guidelines are about educating people about their diabetes via dedicated programmes, delivering routine support for those with the condition, and expanding access to technologies that help people manage diabetes more effectively.
Reacting to the announcement, which comes during Diabetes Week, director at Diabetes UK Cymru, Rachel Burr, welcomed the new statement before adding that she is hopeful it will bring “tangible improvement” to the people of Wales.
Burr added: “With delivery of care in Wales still recovering from the pandemic, and further challenges now as we face a cost-of-living crisis, we look forward to bold changes in governance and delivery of care, so that everyone living with and affected by diabetes has access to equitable and consistent support and care.”
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