MEMBERS of the public have a chance to discuss any concerns they have about changes to the diabetes service at a series of meetings which start tomorrow (Wednesday).
They will have the chance to speak to Director of Health Strategy and Performance Norman McGregor Edwards at the meetings, the first of which takes place at Ramsey Commissioners Office at 7pm.
Last month the Department of Health announced a multi-disciplinary working group - featuring representatives of patients, hospital doctors and specialist staff - "had recommended that the current system of care for diabetics should change to reduce the number of people being seen at the Diabetes Centre who do not need to be seen there".
A statement issued by the department said: "Over the last few years, the numbers attending the centre have reached unsustainable levels resulting in many patients facing longer waiting times than are acceptable or necessary.
"Starting on February 1 2011, over a period of several months, the department will gradually transfer the care of adults with good diabetic control and minimal complications from the care of the Diabetes Centre to GP practices – a move which will bring diabetic care in the Isle of Man more in to line with current best practice and will release capacity at the Diabetes Centre for those patients who will still need to be seen there.
"The guiding principle has been to ensure that the right patient gets the right care, at the right time, in the right place and from the right professional. It is clear that for many people that the right place is in the community, with care provided by their GP.
"This new approach will ensure that patients are not seen inappropriately or unnecessarily, which would result in the Diabetes Centre being overburdened in specific areas to the detriment of the diabetic population as a whole.
"The Diabetes Centre will identify people whose care it currently provides may now be properly delivered through GPs.
"Broadly speaking these will be Type 2 diabetics (those who develop diabetes later in life), who have reasonable diabetic control, and minimal complications. For this group it is proposed that the majority of their care, including their annual review, should be delivered in the GP practice.
"There will remain, though, mechanisms inbuilt to ensure that patients can be reviewed in the Diabetes Centre if there are any concerns about them.
"This will be a phased project, and both patients and GPs will be informed, in advance, of those patients felt suitable for care through their GP."
The other public meetings take place at Keyll Darree (next to Noble's Hospital) on Friday (January 14) at 7pm, Castletown Commissioners Office on Wednesday, January 19, at 7pm and Peel Masonic Lodge on Friday, January 21, at 7pm.
