NHS Forth Valley
Updated 16 June 2011
Who has diabetes?
Numbers diagnosed
Prevalence (Scottish Average 3.5)
2374
3.8
7065
3.8
3529
3.2
Why are these figures important?
Forth Valley profile
NHS Forth Valley provide healthcare to approximately 300,000 members of the public. Within this population 4.6% of individuals have diabetes. This amounts to 13,618 members of the public, and using statistics from the Scottish Public Health Network we estimate that a further 1,933 have this condition but have yet to be diagnosed.
The Better Diabetes Care survey, conducted by Diabetes UK Scotland in 2009, has suggested that accessing NHS care for feet in Forth Valley to be slightly better than in the rest of Scotland. On a national level, 54.0% of those with diabetes do not receive professional input from this service, with 1 in 10 using private care as an alternative to NHS care. Diabetic retinopathy screening in Forth Valley has been found similar with the rest of the country, with 9 in 10 people with diabetes saying they ha their eyes checked once a year.
Patients have said that the service they receive could be improved improving the information and education they are given about diabetes. This need was confirmed by the Better Diabetes Care survey which highlighted that fewer people in Forth Valley have been offered diabetes education compared with the rest of the country. Furthermore, satisfaction in regards to care received as hospital in-patients was low when compared with the rest of Scotland.
In 2007, Diabetes UK Scotland and NHS Quality Improvement Scotland pulled together feedback from focus groups and surveys to report on what was the experience of care of people living with diabetes. The review of the care experience of people living with diabetes within the Forth Valley area has noted that the healthcare service received was ‘excellent’. In particular the communication between healthcare professionals and patients has been found to be most satisfactory.
Voluntary Groups within Forth Valley
- Forth Valley
- Forth Valley Parents
What people have said about diabetes care in Forth Valley
"Diabetic specialist takes time to explain and puts together action plan"
Tell the Scottish Government about your diabetes
The Scottish Government’s websiteBetter Togetheris also interested to hear of people’s experiences of diabetes care. By submitting your experience of NHS care the government hope to improve health services across Scotland. You can follow this link or if you would like send us emailScotland@diabetes.org.ukand we’ll do it for you.
