In Clinical

Follow this topic

Record learning outcomes

NHS England has launched a reference document outlining the action it is taking to improve outcomes for adults with and at risk of diabetes.

‘Action for Diabetes’, which is intended for CCGs and the wider stakeholder community, brings “all the strands of work together in one place, for anyone interested in what NHS England is doing now and over the next few years in this important area”. The document says NHS England will:

• Provide tools and resources to support commissioners in driving quality improvement
• Ensure robust and transparent outcomes information, and aligned levers and incentives to facilitate delivery of integrated care across provider institutional boundaries
• Empower patients with information to support their choices about their own health and care, and support the development of IT solutions that allow sharing of information between providers and with people with diabetes
• Look to the future of the NHS to deliver continued improved outcomes for people with or at risk of diabetes.

While welcoming the recognition that diabetes care needs to improve, Barbara Young, Diabetes UK chief executive, says the report does't go far enough. “This report has a worrying lack of detail about exactly what action NHS England, CCGs and providers will take to drive up standards and how poor performing CCGs will be held to account.”

Without this level of detail, it is unclear how CCGs will be encouraged or supported to make the changes needed to bring the unjust regional variations to an end, she says.