Diabetes Care and Support in Shropshire
Download (PDF 480.26 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Shropshire undertook research into diabetes care and support in Shropshire. Between April and July 2023, 211 people responded to their survey, which was developed with NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin and the Shropshire Public Health team.
Key findings:
Care Plans
• 71.4% of people said they didn’t have a written care plan, 9.5% did have one and 19% were unsure.
• The percentage of those with Type 1 diabetes who don’t have a care plan was lower at 64%.
• There was no correlation between the length of time since diagnosis and likelihood of having a written care plan.
Care and support
• The Diabetes UK ‘care essentials’ that were being provided to most respondents were: free flu jabs (87%), blood pressure checks (84%), blood glucose tests (77%), eye screenings (77%) and cholesterol checks (65%).
• Those provided the least were: emotional and psychological support (5%, advice on diet (20%), group education course (24%), and care from diabetes specialists (33%).
Specialist support
• 60% of people with Type 1 Diabetes received specialist support.
• 36% of people with Type 2 Diabetes received this support.
The report contains recommendations around provision of a range of approaches to education, establishing patient groups for peer support, increasing use of written care plans, considering offering psychological support, reviewing how lifestyle support is provided. The report also contains responses from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, and from Public Health Shropshire.