Less diabetics in Wales being admitted to hospital

The number of emergency hospital admissions of patients with diabetes and other chronic conditions has fallen considerably in Wales, according to new figures.
The data, compiled by NHS Wales chief executive David Sissling, shows that the number of diabetes-related emergency admissions dropped from 2,209 in 2010-11 to 1,886 in 2011-12 – a reduction of 14.6 per cent.
Over the same period, there was a 9.3 per cent drop in emergency admissions of patients with coronary heart disease (16,805 to 15,243) while the figure for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was 16.5 per cent (6,835 to 5,708).
Meanwhile emergency re-admissions for these conditions in Welsh hospitals have declined 23 per cent over the past year.
In his report, Mr Sissling says: “The NHS has made significant strides in reducing hospital admissions for chronic conditions.
“These reductions illustrate two important developments – the improved treatment of once-fatal diseases through better care – often in community settings – and because of that, less reliance on hospitals for the treatment of these conditions.”
Dai Williams, director of Diabetes UK Cymru, said while a drop in the number of people being treated for diabetes in hospital is good, “the key is the quality of care that people receive”.
He stated that only 2per cent of diabetics in Wales get structured education about their condition, even though such measures are recommended by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE); the number of Diabetes Specialist Nurses is falling and there is also a shortage of qualified dieticians.