Diabetes progress report ignores pharmacy's role
Report cites examples of good practice |
Improvements in services for people with diabetes continue to be seen across the NHS but there are still gaps that need to be filled, a report
published by the Department of Health last week reveals. The report
describes progress being made since the Diabetes National Service Framework
was launched four years ago. But, despite including 22 case reports
of good practice across the NHS, it does not mention pharmacy.
Paul Gimson, lead pharmacist for long-term care at the Royal Pharmaceutical
Society, said: “It is disappointing that the report does not mention
the work that pharmacists are doing in this area, and the potential of
pharmacy to address this problem.”
He added that the Government strategy “Choosing
health through pharmacy” and the National Diabetes Support Team have already recognised
pharmacy as a vital network for supporting public health in these areas. “The
Society urges commissioners to consider the potential benefit of pharmacy
when designing services,” he said.
Shailen Rao, an independent consultant and chairman of the Primary Care
Pharmacists’ Association, has had extensive experience of redesigning
diabetes services. “It is heartening to see that good progress
is being made in the management of diabetes around the country. It is
disappointing that the role of pharmacists has not been given the recognition
it deserves. The combination of the new pharmacy contract and practice-based
commissioning provides a golden opportunity to engage pharmacists, who
are ideally placed to help patients make better use of their medicines — a
well documented problem for people with diabetes and a major area of
investment by the NHS,” he said.
The DoH report says that the commissioning process must be grounded in
a comprehensive needs assessment. It also indicates that needs are likely
to be met only through innovative solutions from independent providers.
Health minister Rosie Winterton said: “As more people are diagnosed
with diabetes the NHS must step up to the challenge of continuing to
provide high quality services that are convenient for patients. The NSF
progress report demonstrates that excellent work is already under way
and I would urge PCTs to look at how they can best provide services for
people with diabetes in their local area.”
A second report published by the DoH last week considers
the use of insulin pumps within the NHS. It follows guidance from the National Institute
for Clinical Excellence published in 2003, and recommends that pump therapy
be included as part of a comprehensive service for type 1 diabetes.
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