Brown replies to Burstow on diabetes

11.00.00am GMT Mon 9th Feb 2009

MP for Sutton and Cheam, Paul Burstow and Kitty Dadds, a 10 year old constituent, have received a reply from Gordon Brown to a letter they personally delivered to Downing Street calling for improvements in care for children with diabetes.

Almost 4,000 people in Mr Burstow's constituency have diabetes including Kitty Dadds who came to Westminster in November as part of a nationwide lobby by diabetic children who want access to regular check-ups and support at school to help them manage their condition.

Mr Burstow has asked parliamentary questions about what the government are doing to ensure that all children diagnosed with diabetes are receiving proper support. He also called on the Prime Minister to undertake a review of current treatment before bringing in new practice and policy to deliver quality care for all diabetic children.

In his reply the Prime Minister offered his support for children living with diabetes and listed what the Government were doing to try and improve services for young diabetics. However he admitted that services for diabetic children and the way schools manage the condition is not consistent across the country.

Paul Burstow MP said, 'Kitty and her mum told me what a difference a good school can make to coming to terms with the condition. Kitty goes to Cheam Park Farm Junior school and they are a beacon of good practice and common sense when it comes to helping young people living with long term medical conditions.

'However, not everyone is as fortunate as Kitty so we need Government action to ensure that children like Kitty and her whole family can access the help and support which they need.

'Under Mr Brown's Government schools are must promote the wellbeing of all pupils, including those with long-term medical conditions, but currently they are failing in that duty.'