Brown's Cuts are not the solution to NHS Problems!

It’s well known that Kingston’s NHS is facing challenges – especially with the budget. What’s less well-known is exactly what this can mean for patients. A real concern of mine is the care for people with diabetes.

Waiting lists for vital check-ups are long and Kingston’s NHS is failing to deliver an important screening programme for diabetics. 

In case you think this is a minor issue, estimates suggest at least 2,000 people in Kingston are suffering from diabetes – with over 2 million diabetics in the UK and up to another 750,000 with undetected diabetes.

If picked up, treated and properly monitored, diabetes is mostly manageable – Olympic gold medal-winning rower Steve Redgrave is a diabetic. Yet if undiagnosed, there can be serious complications, including heart disease and blindness. Diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in people of working age.

That’s why the Government was correct to establish a screening programme for diabetic retinopathy - but why I’m pushing our local NHS to stop feet-dragging on full local implementation, and asking Ministers to ensure the cash is available.

Diabetic retinopathy does not usually affect someone’s sight until the damage is almost irreparable, so screening is the only way to detect it. Moreover, laser treatments are now effective against reducing any sight loss.

The problem is that preventative health care tends to get cut or be forgotten about when the NHS is in financial problems. So whether it’s diabetes care, NHS dentistry or school nursing, we must campaign for the less glamorous side of health care and prevent short-sighted cuts.