"Living with diabetes at school" - a Diabetes UK Campaign
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Our campaign for "Living with diabetes in schools" has been successful with the appointment of a support for headteachers to ensure they and governing bodies in all schools in Warwickshire implement the Disability Discrimenation Act (DDA) and the new Disability Equality Duty both of which of course include diabetes.
All schools have been invited to attend a range of training events covering, amongst a host of other things, which conditions would meet the DDA so they should be in no doubt as to diabetes being covered. Heads and Governors will be told they have a responsibility to see that someone within their support staff has administering medication (or supervising self-administration) as part of their contractural duties.
In addition Warwickshire Education Authority intend to update their School Health Directory which will outline arrangements/protocols for children with diabetes. This will include the facility for children to "snack" outside of recognised meal/break times and the provision of a "quiet room" for injections, blood glucose testing etc.
An excellent result! Many thanks to all who lent their support to this campaign.
An additional campaign
We are campaigning for pressure to be placed on Warwickshire PCT for an improvement in diabetes services in the county.
We are calling for a public consultation so that the views of people with diabetes, or their carers, can be heard and to let the authorities know that current services are not in line with Government health and communities policy.
Interested persons are being circularised urging them to write to the PCT putting forward pertinent questions such as:
- What is the PCT's vision for implementing the National Service Framework for Diabetes?
- Can the PCT provide a breakdown on their diabetes budget and how such monies are spent?
- What are the PCT's plans for developing better integrated specialist diabetes services in the community?
- What are the PCT's plans for implementing NICE guidance on structured education for newly diagnosed patients published 2 years ago? (Note: our local voluntary group have funded the cost of 2 sets of educational tools (£5,000) but courses have recently been scrapped)
- What are the PCT's plans for ensuring there is clinical governance and staff are trained and updated to provide best care?
- What are the PCT's plans for involving patients in decision making and being accountable to those patients?
- What are the PCT's plans for involving patients with diabetes on an ongoing basis to provide feedback on the services?
It is suggested any letters should be copied to local MPs James Plaskitt, Jeremy Wright and John Maples together with Hazel Mears MP, Secretary of State for Communities and Phil Hope MP, Minister for the Voluntary Sector at the House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.
Thank you for your support.
