Pre-diabetes screening planned
Millions of people will be screened for pre-diabetes from next year, as part of a new government drive to prevent the disease.
As part of the largest preventive initiative in the history of the NHS, half of all patients over 40 will be placed on some form of cardiovascular medication, reports Pulse.
It is believed that the programme will cost around £332 million a year, but the Department of Health maintains it will be hugely cost-effective in the coming years.
The five-yearly vascular checks are expected to necessitate the equivalent of an extra 1,000 GPs, practice nurses and healthcare assistants by 2012.
Dr Matt Kearney, a GP in Runcorn, Cheshire, and a public health practitioner at Knowsley PCT, said he believed the majority of practices in the area would sign up for the initiative.
"I think GPs have seen the opportunity to make a real difference to patient outcomes," he said.
The programme is to be phased in over a four-year period.
The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with diabetes.
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