2. What action will the Welsh Government take to improve services for diabetes sufferers in Wales in the fifth Assembly? OAQ(5)0002(HWS)

Thank you for the question in Diabetes Week. We invest nearly £100 million each year in specific diabetes care and we will continue to invest £1 million a year for improvement through the NHS-led diabetes implementation group. We expect to see improved patient outcomes by consistently meeting national service standards, supporting patient self-management through education programmes and helping to prevent people at high risk from developing diabetes.

Thank you for the answer, business Secretary. Figures revealed by Diabetes UK Cymru reveal that the number of people living with diabetes in Wales is at its highest ever level. Their director has highlighted the lack of understanding when it comes to people being aware of the seriousness of diabetes. Given that Wales has the worst rate of child obesity, does the Minister agree that we need to prevent children becoming overweight to reduce figure levels of diabetes? What plans does he have to work with schools and parents to improve the information necessary to achieve this goal in Wales?

I thank the Member for his follow-up question. Of course, we have two types of diabetes: type 1, which is not related to lifestyle factors at all, and type 2, which is, frankly, lifestyle-factor related. So, we need to deal with both of those issues. A number of children at varying ages understand that they will have type 1 diabetes and we do need to make sure that the care and support that they receive is appropriate, and also, for type 2 diabetes, we’re much more into the field of prevention. So, let me just address both of those points. On type 2, it goes across a range of public health measures; it’s not just a health and social services or even sport responsibility—there’s a whole range of other people with an issue here, for example the work that we do on healthy schools and the way that schools engage. In every school I visit in my own constituency and around the country, you see a very clear healthy eating and healthy drinking message and in particular an awareness of sugar. So, a range of things that we do to encourage people to make different choices are important. We do have to work with parents as well, because we do know that whatever children have in school, a much bigger influence takes place outside of the school gates too.

Just to reiterate the serious consequence of diabetes, yesterday Cardiff and Vale University Local Health Board highlighted a woman in her 50s who’d lost her sight in one eye; she had type 1 diabetes. She didn’t manage her condition well in her 20s and 30s and had now lost sight in her eye. She’s encouraging people to take advantage of the patient education programmes that are available. There’s a broad range of people at risk, a broad range of messages and actions that we all need to take. It’s a complex issue, but one we cannot avoid.

Yesterday, Cabinet Secretary, you and I heard from people who have diabetes about the improvements that have taken place in services across Wales. That is to be commended and to be celebrated—the work that was done by your predecessor, Mark Drakeford, in implementing the diabetes plans. As a result, we are now the envy of diabetes champions in England, because of the fact that each health board now has a diabetes lead, which I’m sure is one of the reasons why we’ve had so much improvement in the way that we look after people with diabetes. But you’ll also recall that we heard from the mother of a child who died of undiagnosed type 1 diabetes, and I wondered if you could say something about how we can work with other services to ensure that everybody is aware of the potential risk factors and the signs that somebody may or may not have type 1 diabetes.

Thank you for the question. I was very pleased to join you in the event yesterday to highlight Diabetes Week and the work they’re undertaking here in Wales to improve the position. The point about undiagnosed diabetes applies both to type 1 and type 2 and the risk factors that are there. It’s a particularly difficult case, and I’ll be happy to meet again with you and the cross-party group. I understand the mother is coming to the next cross-party group to explain her own experiences. There’s a message here about awareness between health and education, about factors that could have been picked up at an earlier stage. I’m really pleased to see that the mother is keen to ensure that other people learn the lesson and understand and recognise more of the signs; there is a positive message there. But I’m really pleased to hear you recognise the improvements we’ve made in patient care here in Wales. In particular, Diabetes UK were very clear about the fact that there’s real momentum here in Wales in improving care, which they want to see in other parts of the UK. So, some good news for us here in Wales, but, equally, a recognition that there is still much more to do.