Approaches to Diabetes Health Professional Education in England: A Report from the Diabetes UK Healthcare Professional Education Task and Finish Group

This survey was undertaken at a time of substantial infrastructure change in the NHS, with the formation of Clinical Commissioning Groups where ‘front-line’ clinicians take on the strategic, leadership and managerial roles in the commissioning (purchasing) of services for patients. Diabetes is a significant health concern, both in the UK and globally. In 2010/11 UK NHS spending on diabetes was estimated at nearly £10 billion – 10 per cent of the NHS budget. £1bn for Type 1 diabetes and £8.8bn for Type 2. Eighty per cent of NHS spending on diabetes goes into managing avoidable complications. Better management of diabetes has great potential to reduce these costs and improve the care provided to people with diabetes.