To ask the Secretary of State for Health (1) how many people with diabetes in England have been provided with structured patient education in (a) 2005 and (b) 2006; (79374)

The information requested is not held centrally. However, from January 2006, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s (NICE) health technology appraisal No 60— “Guidance on the use of patient education models for diabetes” requires all primary care trusts to implement NICE recommendations by providing all people with diabetes with high-quality, structured education. Compliance with NICE health technology appraisals is a core standard and is assessed by the Healthcare Commission as part of its annual health check.

To ask the Secretary of State for Health how many meetings her Department’s Commercial Directorate held with her Department’s diabetes policy team about the potential impact on patient care of the Drug Tariff Part IX consultation before 24 October 2005; and how many such meetings have been held since that date. (81109)

A formal meeting was held between Dr. Sue Roberts, national clinical director for diabetes, on 21 June 2006 with representatives from the Department’s commercial directorate and the pricing and supply directorate.