Diabetes patients miss key tests

Posted 21/02/2012

According to the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), Primary Care Health Trusts should be giving diabetes patients a series of nine different health checks every 12 months. Statistics published by the NHS reveal that in some areas of England only 10% of patients are getting these potentially life saving tests.These vital tests are required to spot the early signs of infection which in a diabetes sufferer can quickly lead to gangrene, blindness, kidney failure and heart problems.Samantha Collins, a medical injury solicitor at Ashtons Legal, comments: “It is appalling to know that essential tests are being missed. There should be a clear system in place to ensure that every single diabetes sufferer undergoes these tests. It is unacceptable that people are developing complications and suffering from the effects of infection, such as amputation of a gangrenous foot, when simple tests could have been conducted to prevent the infection in the first place”.