Photo: Annette at the Parliamentary event
Mid Dorset and North Poole MP Annette Brooke has shown her support for children with Type 1 diabetes by backing a call by Diabetes UK for improved healthcare for children and young people living with the condition.
Ms Brooke attended Diabetes UK’s parliamentary reception, held to help launch the charity’s Type 1 Essentials campaign, which highlights the essential care and support that every childliving with Type 1 diabetes needs.
The charity says too many children with Type 1 diabetes are not getting the essential checks and services they need to manage their condition, which is reflected in the fact that 85 per cent of children with Type 1 diabetes have poor blood glucose control. This puts them at increased risk of devastating health complications later in life such as blindness, amputations and stroke.
As part of the campaign the charity is calling on NHS leaders and commissioners to commit to ensuring the right resources and services are place so that children and young people living with Type 1 diabetes have access to good healthcare.
To help make parents, health leaders and commissioners aware of what good care for children with diabetes looks like, the charity has also produced a Type 1 essentials for children and young people guide, which sets out the 10 things every child with Type 1 diabetes should receive.
Diabetes UK also held a lobby on the same day at the Houses of Parliament where children and young people with diabetes and their families directly appealed to MPs and ministers to commit to improving diabetes services and care for children.
Annette Brooke MP said: “It is essential that children and young people with Type 1 diabetes in Mid Dorset and North Poole and across the country get the support and care they need to manage their condition. This is because if diabetes is not managed well in early life it could lead to devastating complications later in life.
“This is why I’m backing Diabetes UK’s Type 1 Essentials campaign and I will be working with health leaders in Mid Dorset and North Poole to ensure that children and young people with the condition in the area are getting the recommended diabetes care, services and support they are entitled to.”
Bridget Turner, Diabetes UK Director of Policy and Care Improvement, said: “We are pleased to have the support of Annette Brooke MP on what is a very important issue. Type 1 diabetes is a very serious condition that requires a lifetime of management and yet many children are not getting the care or support they need.
“We need to make sure that everyone – parents, parliamentarians and health leaders, are aware of the care that every child and young person with Type 1 diabetes is entitled to. This is why we have launched our Type 1 essentials for children and young people guide, which sets out what good diabetes care looks like.”
Diabetes UK’s a Type 1 essentials for children and young people guide can be downloaded at: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Campaigning/Type-1-essentials/What-are-the-Type-1-essentials/
