The NHS in North East London (NEL) is leading the way nationally in supporting people with diabetes to effectively manage their condition, official figures show.
The latest National Diabetes Audit for 2024/25 shows NHS NEL has the best record in England for delivering eight key annual checks for people diagnosed with the condition.
The audit, delivered by NHS England in partnership with Diabetes UK, shows nearly three-quarters (73.1%) of the 158,405 people in NEL diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes received all eight essential annual health checks – significantly above the national average of 57.6%.
The checks monitor blood glucose levels, blood pressure, cardiovascular risk, kidney function, weight, smoking status, and foot health. Completing these is crucial for detecting early signs of deterioration and helping patients manage their condition more effectively.
The high uptake of checks achieved in NEL is largely down to the successful delivery of dedicated clinics by primary care teams that bring diabetes care closer to patients’ homes across Barking and Dagenham, City of London, Hackney, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest.
Dr Paul Gilluley, Chief Medical Officer for NHS North East London, said: “Diabetes care provided under NHS NEL’s Long Term Conditions programme supports the ‘three big shifts’ outlined in the government’s 10 Year Health Plan, published in July, which outlines moving care from hospital to community settings, a transformation from analogue to digital systems, and a fundamental change from sickness to prevention.
“We’re delighted that the work we’re doing to support people living with diabetes is having a positive impact. It shows that by taking services into the community, improving access to these crucial checks, people are more likely to engage with their care.
Dr Chris Carvalho, GP in City and Hackney and Associate Clinical Director for Long Term Conditions for NHS North East London, said: “Taking this approach supports people with diabetes to manage their condition and lead healthier lives, and this is turn helps us reduce hospital admissions and ease pressures on local health services so there are benefits for individuals and for the NHS.
“The positive results highlighted in the latest National Diabetes Audit are testament to the hard work of our GPs and practice teams and local partners. However, we recognise there’s still room for improvement and we will continue to work collectively to deliver better care for diabetes patients across north east London.
NEL has some of the highest estimated Type 2 diabetes prevalence in the country, which means improved access to these key checks is crucial for local people.”
Niks Kent, Head of South East Coast and London at Diabetes UK said: “Diabetes is a serious condition that affects millions in the UK, putting people at risk of potentially life-altering complications. Attending regular health checks can make a crucial difference by spotting signs of diabetes-related damage early and ensuring that people are getting the right treatment for them, as soon as possible.
“Effective delivery of routine diabetes care is central to the shift from sickness to prevention set out in the NHS 10 Year Health Plan. It’s encouraging to see that so many people in North East London are receiving their diabetes health checks, supporting them to manage their condition, and live life to the full.”