Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 189: To ask the Minister for Health and Children the measures she will take to reduce the prevalence of diabetes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6183/07]

Seán Power (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department published the Report of the Working Group on Diabetes, "Prevention and Model for Patient Care" in early 2006 and the Health Service Executive has been working actively to progress the recommendations of the Working Group.

Following the publication of the Report, the recommendations have been considered by the Management Team of the Primary, Community and Continuing Care Directorate. The Management Team has identified the following priorities for Primary, Community and Continuing Care Services:

To audit and assess current provision in the local health areas and the Administrative Areas;

To identify Best Practice;

The Development of local registers;

The identification of high risk patients;

Development of the working arrangements between the HSE and the voluntary sector;

The further roll-out of the screening programme for diabetic retinopathy;

The Chief Executive of the HSE has identified the establishment of Expert Advisory Groups as a major step in the Reform programme which is about making things better for the people using our services. The purpose of the Expert Advisory Groups (EAG) is to bring the expertise of the clinical and health community and the voice of patients, clients and service users to a more influential role within the HSE. These EAGs will play an influential role in crafting a strategic vision of their areas of focus.

The HSE established an Expert Advisory Group on Diabetes in October 2006. This group has identified a number of priority issues which it will focus on initially and that will be incorporated into a wider strategy for implementation in relation to Diabetes Care.

In addition my Department and the HSE are working to put in place a series of measures to manage the health impacts of chronic disease generally in the population.

These measures include: the development of a comprehensive, integrated chronic disease policy framework which will view chronic disease as a continuum with "upstream" action on the avoidable cause of disease, disability and premature death as well as "downstream" action to improve the health and quality of life of those already suffering from the condition; comprehensive patient registration systems; the development of shared care models for each condition under a disease management programme; the development and use of evidence-based clinical guidelines for each condition; a Self-Care Management Programme; evaluation Protocols.