Charity condemns 'tragic failure' of health check provision (From Harrow Times)

Diabetes UK condemns 'tragic failure' of health check provision in Harrow

12:20pm Sunday 23rd September 2012 in News By David Hardiman, Reporter

A diabetes charity has warned of “dire consequences” after Harrow’s doctors were found to be some of the worst in the country at offering potentially lifesaving health checks.

Just 2.2 per cent of those eligible in the borough were offered a health check to test for risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and kidney failure in 2011/12, one of the worst rates in England.

And Diabetes UK warned that the trend is continuing this year, with the rate much lower than the national average of 13.9 per cent.

The charity said it means that those at risk, aged between 40-74, are missing the chance to get help to prevent the condition and reduce risk of complications in later treatment.

Regional manager Roz Rosenblatt said: “The failure to properly implement the NHS Health Check in Harrow has potentially dire consequences.

“Put together, this means the poor implementation of the NHS Health Check in Harrow is a tragic failure.

“NHS and local authority leaders in the area need to start giving this programme a much higher priority than has previously been the case.

“Until this happens, it will be letting down local people who have either undiagnosed Type 2 diabetes or are at high risk of developing the condition. Urgent action is needed.”

NHS Harrow did not respond to questions from the Harrow Times .