A new report, Your Local Care, commissioned by Diabetes UK warned that diabetes services for children, was still not given as a priority by local health authorities across the UK.
Government targets set three years ago to improve on paediatric care is not being met as children are not getting the care they need.
The report author Dr Foster, an independent health analyst found a quarter of primary care trusts (PCTs) had made improvements in this area as part of their local delivery plans.
The report went on to say specialist nurses could not cope with the demand of children needing specialist care, therefore they could only spend a small amount of time with the children. Each nurse has an average caseload of 100 children in their care.
Out of all the PCTs, only 54 per cent gave psychological support to youngsters with diabetes. Over 37 per cent of trusts stated that they didn’t have a specific fund to develop services for diabetics in 2005. However, the report found improvements had been made diabetic care for children.
The report found that 70 per cent PCTs had written procedures on how to assess diabetic children, compared to 59 per cent last year, but 96 per cent had arranged training courses on the management for diabetes for health staff in primary care during the last two years.
Douglas Smallwood, chief executive of Diabetes UK, said.,"The future health of children with diabetes is being put at risk, yet only a quarter of local NHS services have included improving the situation in their local plans.
"We cannot wait until our children start to lose their sight or need kidney dialysis before we focus on their care. Dedicated doctors and nurses are doing their best, but they need the full support of the NHS. It is time the resources are provided to supply the best possible specialised care and support for children with diabetes."
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