Exclusive: GPs will be forced to conduct nine separate checks in each patient with diabetes under Department of Health plans to create a single diabetes QOF indicator worth over £5,000, Pulse can reveal.
The DH is also pushing for a change in thresholds along with the ‘composite indicator', which would include HbA1c, cholesterol, blood pressure and foot checks, in an attempt to boost achievement in the routine assessment of patients with diabetes.
The move comes after a national audit suggested only half of patients with diabetes were receiving all nine checks – a result described as ‘appalling' by patient groups.
2 comments:
What happens if you don't want the checks?
All patients should receive nine crucial tests from their GP at an annual review of their diabetes management. These include measurements of weight, blood pressure, smoking status, HbA1c, urinary albumin, serum creatinine, cholesterol, and tests to assess whether the eyes and feet have been damaged by diabetes.
Imagine that all diabetics received all these tests but NHS dietary advice remains unchanged. What would be the result? It is my belief that the results of the last 4 diabetes audits would continue resulting in approximately 70% of Type 1s having a HbA1c > 7.5% and approximately 33% of Type2s having a HbA1c> 7.5% with high risks of future complications.
Given all nine tests for all diabetics would result in an earlier diagnosis of the complications of uncontrolled diabetes. An improvement but surely a missed opportunity to tackle the cause of uncontrolled diabetes.
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