‘Rise in UK diabetes cases threatening NHS’
A British charity has warned that a rise in the number of diabetes cases in the UK is threatening to bankrupt the National Health Service (NHS).
According to Diabetes UK, a 60% rise in Britain’s cases in the past 10 years shows that 3,333,069 people have been diagnosed with the disease, the Guardian reported.
Diabetes cases in England and Wales have risen by 59.8% since 2005, with an additional 1.2 million diabetic patients compared with a decade ago.
The NHS figures analyzed by Diabetes UK show the ‘urgent’ need for care for such patients, also stressing the importance of prevention.
“The costs of treating diabetes will continue to spiral out of control and threaten to bankrupt the NHS. Now is the time for action,” the British charity said.
Only six out of 10 diabetic patients in England and Wales reportedly receive the proper care recommended by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).
“This is why it’s critical that the government takes urgent action to ensure that everyone with diabetes receives the eight care processes, reducing their risk of further health complications and the costs these incur for the already strained NHS budget,” Diabetes UK said.
The report goes on to quote Barbara Young, chief executive of Diabetes UK, as saying that, “Diabetes already costs the NHS nearly £10bn a year, and 80% of this is spent on managing avoidable complications. So there is huge potential to save money and reduce pressure on NHS hospitals and services through providing better care to prevent people with diabetes from developing devastating and costly complications.”
“Until then, avoidable human suffering will continue and the costs of treating diabetes will continue to spiral out of control and threaten to bankrupt the NHS. Now is the time for action,” she added.
The UK charity says if current trends continue, five million Britons will have diabetes by 2025.
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