THURROCK Diabetes Group has helped in compiling a report which found less than half of all sufferers receive the checks they should to be able to manage their condition.

The House of Commons public accounts committee, on which Thurrock MP Jackie Doyle-Price sits, published the report, which looks at the management of adult diabetes in the NHS.

Ms Doyle-Price said: “Less than half of all diabetes sufferers receive all the checks they should to be able to manage their condition. The same is true in Thurrock.

“We also found that 24,000 people die prematurely every year because their diabetes has not been managed effectively, and many more develop avoidable complications such as blindness and kidney disease.

“This is not acceptable. Less than than one in five people with diabetes have the recommended tests of blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol. This leaves them at a higher risk of developing complications.

“The failure to deliver these minimum standards is costing the NHS more money through higher hospital admissions. The NHS must do better and I hope a new clinical commissioning group will make sure standards of care are improved in Thurrock.”

Ms Doyle-Price added she was grateful for the help of Thurrock Diabetes Group, which visited Parliament before the report was compiled.