A Company Chemists’ Association (CCA) report urges the NHS to commission a community pharmacy diabetes screening service. The report, Increasing Access to Diabetes Screening and Prevention Through Community Pharmacy, highlights the need for a national patient pathway for diabetes detection and prevention.
This initiative could screen 1.5 million adults annually, identifying 180,000 prediabetics and 45,000 undiagnosed diabetics. It aims to prevent nearly 7,000 heart attacks and strokes and reduce the risk of severe sight loss in almost 15,000 people over their lifetime.
The CCA highlights that diabetes costs the NHS a tenth of its budget, projected to rise to 17% by 2035. Screening in pharmacies could save £50 million yearly by easing the burden on GP appointments, especially in deprived areas with limited access to healthcare.
The report urges the NHS to develop a national diabetes screening service, improve communication between pharmacies and GPs, and create patient pathways for easier access to diabetes care.
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