Diabetes centre under no threat

According to health chiefs, the diabetes centre at Ipswich Hospital is under no threat. Diabetic news earlier this year indicated that the Diabetes Centre could be closed down.
NHS Suffolk bosses maintained that the centre will remain in place, due to increasing numbers of people with diabetes . Tracy Dowling and Dr. Andrew Hassan both made it clear that the centre was safe.
Dr. Hassa, medical director, was reported in the news as commenting: “Inevitably we are going to see a higher proportion of diabetes cases in primary care . This increase does not pose any threat to diabetes services in hospitals. Even with rising numbers of the condition, the numbers of patients being managed within the specialist diabetes clinics will remain similar, even if the greater proportion is managed by GPs.”
Diabetes consultant Dr. Gerry Rayman reportedly said: “It would be impossible and not sensible for all people with diabetes to be seen at the Diabetes Centre. It is therefore essential that primary care is supported to develop their diabetes services especially as the numbers of people with diabetes increase. It is also essential that the specialist services provided by the Diabetes Centre are available for those patients whose diabetes is more complicated. We strongly believe that integration of these services supported by strong governance and training is essential to achieve this.”