We have not made any recent assessments into the adequacy of either psychological support or education for people suffering from (i) Type 1 and (ii) Type 2 diabetes. It is for primary care trusts to commission comprehensive diabetes services that meet the needs of their local population.
We recognise the important role emotional and psychological support has in enabling people with diabetes to self-manage their condition on a day-to-day basis. The Department is working with National Health Service Diabetes and Diabetes UK to identify what needs to be done to enable the national health service and local care services to meet the psychological and emotional needs of all people with diabetes.
Since the publication of the Department of Health and Diabetes UK joint report: ‘Structured Patient Education in Diabetes’ in June 2005, a copy of which has been placed in the Library, we have been working with NHS Diabetes to find ways to increase the spread of patient education programmes.