DHB rejects attack on care of diabetics

Health groups say two staff care for 10,000 patients. Photo / Bay of Plenty Times

A claim that poor care for diabetes patients is putting them at risk of further serious health problems has been rejected by Bay of Plenty District Health Board.

Three health groups have criticised care for diabetes patients in eight sample districts, including the Bay of Plenty, where it was claimed one nurse and one part-time doctor had to care for 10,744 patients.

But the health board, which recently complained about Ministry of Health diabetes and heart disease figures which it claims are faulty, says this is inaccurate.

A survey was made by Diabetes New Zealand and the Society for Study of Diabetes in New Zealand, which issued a joint statement with the New Zealand Nurses Organisation.

The survey's findings claimed the district's diabetes service had "only one diabetes specialist nurse and one part-time physician to care for over 10,000 diabetes patients, including a large Maori population".

"This lack of resources will impact on diabetes education, insulin initiation and support to GPs who have to care for patients previously seen by a diabetes specialist," the groups said.

They said diabetes patients faced at least six months on waiting lists, which would "inevitably impact on the risk of complications".

But the health board's planning and funding general manager, Helen Mason, said this was inaccurate.

"The Bay of Plenty District Health Board has funding in place for a full-time diabetes specialist at Tauranga Hospital as well as three diabetes nurse specialists," she said.

"Additionally, Te Puna Hauora has a diabetes specialist with a specific focus on Maori."

The new claims have come less than a month after Bay of Plenty District Health Board voiced its frustration over diabetes and cardiovascular disease figures it said were pulling down its marks in quarterly health targets used to compare the country's health boards.

- APN