11. Short Debate: A call for GPs to undertake routine screening for type 1 diabetes in children and young people

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:22 pm on 6 December 2017.

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Photo of Lynne Neagle Lynne Neagle Labour 6:22, 6 December 2017

Can I thank Janet for letting me have a minute of her time? I've also been grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for health for his recent engagement on the Know Type 1 campaign and for meeting with myself, colleagues Julie Morgan and Jayne Bryant, and Diabetes UK Cymru and Beth Baldwin, who has campaigned so courageously following the tragic death of her son, Peter, two years ago. As the Cabinet Secretary knows from those meetings, I strongly support the calls for an awareness-raising campaign about type 1 diabetes, particularly amongst GPs, school staff and parents.

Janet has very clearly articulated how easy it is to save a life with a simple finger-prick test. I am keen to see, Cabinet Secretary, further direction from you and Welsh Government to raise awareness on this. Diabetes UK Cymru would like to see type 1 information presented to parents as regularly as it is on other childhood conditions like meningitis, for example. This could be done through health visitors and use of the red book—very simple but also very effective. They're also preparing information packs for schools and GP surgeries, which will be ready next year, and a video resource that can be used for GPs. I think there is a key role here for Welsh Government to facilitate the distribution and promotion of these materials so that their use is encouraged.

I'm conscious I've only got a minute so, just finally, can I ask if there is any update, Cabinet Secretary, on the discussions you've had with the children and young people's diabetes network on increasing the availability of glucose meters and electronic prompts for GPs?