6. Debate on the Petitions Committee report: Petition P-04-682 Routine Screening for Type 1 Diabetes in Children and Young People

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:05 pm on 3 October 2018.

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Photo of David Rowlands David Rowlands UKIP 4:05, 3 October 2018

First of all, can I thank all the Members for their contributions? I must say that there is one theme that ran throughout each of your contributions and that's the availability of the equipment in order to be able to test for type 1 diabetes. 

Dai Lloyd brought his considerable experience, obviously, as a GP, to the debate and spoke of the necessity to test every child who presents with some or all of the symptoms. But it is true, and we must remember this, that any GP, throughout his lifetime, may only see a handful of type 1 diabetes patients present to him, although, of course, over the coming years, that's likely to increase. So, I must say that we have to not allow this debate to die or for any of the recommendations to slowly melt away. This must be an ongoing debate and an ongoing business of education with all GPs and front-line practice nurses as well.

Lynne Neagle, obviously, again, spoke about testing equipment and being there for primary care providers and also, of course, as all the contributors did, paid tribute to the Baldwin family. Again, Mike Hedges did that as well and also made the point of us making sure that the equipment and the knowledge are made available in our schools and colleges in particular. Janet Finch-Saunders was glad that the Cabinet Secretary had accepted and adopted many of our recommendations, but she said that many things are still not as good as they should be and that matters are not particularly improving at this moment. Julie Morgan, of course, who knows the family well, again spoke about their courage in bringing this matter forward and the work that they continue to do in order to raise awareness of this appalling infliction. Jayne Bryant again thanked the family for their strength and courage, and she spoke about children who already have been saved by the work, and I think the Baldwin family ought to take congratulations for the fact that what they're doing is already saving lives.

I'd like, now, to just speak about what the Cabinet Secretary has said on these matters, but I'd like to ask him: are further actions to ensure symptoms are asked about in primary care ongoing at this moment in time? And, were the NICE guidelines in place when this tragedy actually happened, because you seem to have placed a great deal of emphasis on NICE guidelines? And, whether he expects training to be provided to GPs alongside the new diabetes referral pathway. What places are in progress in order to diagnose the delivery—the progress on diagnosis in the diabetes delivery plan?

Llywydd, I very much hope that this debate and the petitions process as a whole have been a positive experience for Beth, Stuart, Lia and the rest of Peter’s family and friends. I hope that we, as an Assembly, have been able to help to support their drive to improve awareness of the symptoms of type 1 diabetes and its diagnosis. I want to wish the family all the best in their continuing fundraising and awareness-raising efforts on this issue and to thank them for truly honouring Peter’s memory in this way. Diolch yn fawr.