Assembly members call for diabetes screening

With national diabetes week around the corner local assembly members have been urging the Health Minister to tackle the issue of diabetes and begin a screening programme for adults and high-risk groups.

The disease, which is said to be “too deadly to ignore” effects around 40,000 people in Northern Ireland. Another 25,000 are unaware they have it according to Diabetes UK.

However reflecting the global trend, the number of people affected by diabetes in Northern Ireland is expected to double by 2010.

Ulster Unionist Mid Ulster assembly member Billy Armstrong has said diabetes is an issue that is “much neglected.”

“Diabetes should be a major issue in the NHS because it accounts for around nine per cent of hospital costs in Northern Ireland which is the equivalent to over £100 million per year.

“As well as affecting a large number of people throughout Northern Ireland the disease also has a major impact on NHS resources. This debate comes at a time when the Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety is continually stating that the NHS is severely under funded. It would appear to be clear to me that if the issue of diabetes was dealt with more effectively then the NHS would be able to save a substantial amount of resources.”

In March 2001 the Northern Ireland Taskforce on Diabetes was created. This taskforce is currently working on producing a comprehensive document on diabetes and is expected to publish its findings later in the autumn.

Last week the Northern Ireland Assembly debated the issue of diabetes, proposed by Laganvalley assembly member Ivan Davis. The motion passed last Tuesday acknowledges the serious threat to health and to healthcare resources posed by the rapid increase in the incidence of diabetes, looks forward to the publication of the report of the task force on diabetes and calls on the Minister of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to tackle immediately the serious issue of diabetes commencing with a screening programme for those adults who fall within high risk groups.

National diabetes week, which runs from June 9-15, will see fundraising events being hosted all across the country. Walks to raise money for the charity in Northern Ireland will take place in Belfast, Lurgan, Enniskillen and Newtownabbey.

(AMcE)