Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, whether steps are being taken to improve the uptake of structured diabetes education in the (a) NHS Kernow CCG area and (b) throughout England; and if he will make a statement.

NHS England has invested £10.5 million transformation funding in 2018/19, and a similar amount in 2017/18 to provide approximately 96,000 additional structured education places in 137 clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). It has also invested in dedicated diabetes roles in NHS England regional teams and clinical networks to support CCGs, including Kernow CCG, in expanding the availability and take-up of structured education.

Helping people to recognise the risks of developing diabetes and encouraging them to take action to reduce those risks is one of the key priorities for Shaping Our Future, our sustainability and transformation plan.

In recognition of this, Kernow CCG is commissioning structured education for people newly-diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, through the Diabetes Education and Self-Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed (DESMOND) programme. The programme is a six-hour course designed to help people gain an understanding of the condition and provide practical skills to manage it effectively. The course is due to start in September 2018 and people will be asked by their general practitioner if they would like to be referred.