MORE than four out of 10 people with diabetes in Swindon are not receiving essential health checks to help them avoid serious complications of the condition.

The data from the National Diabetes Audit 2012-2013, which presents findings for the care of over two million people in England and Wales with diabetes, shows 56 per cent of people with diabetes in the Swindon Clinical Commiss- ioning Group area received eight recommended NICE care processes.

A Diabetes UK analysis of the data shows this is below the national average of almost 60 per cent – the worst rate in the South West. The CCG is in the bottom 20 per cent of CCGs when it comes to the number of people with diabetes receiving these checks.

The highest performing CCG was 78 per cent of people receiving the full eight checks.

The yearly checks assess the effectiveness of diabetes treatment, including blood pressure, serum cholesterol, body mass index and smoking and to show up potential foot and kidney problems.

In Swindon, there are more than 11,000 people with diagnosed Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Just 33 per cent of people with diabetes in Swindon met their treatment targets. The audit records the three NICE recommended treatment targets that should be monitored and met for patients with diabetes: glucose control, blood pressure and cholesterol.

Good diabetes management reduces the risk of complications. But when it is not well managed, it is associated with serious complications including heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney disease and amputations leading to disability and premature death.

Swindon is below the national average of almost 36 per cent for treatment targets. In the highest performing CCG, 48 per cent of patients reached their recommended targets.

Phaedra Perry, Diabetes UK regional manager in the South West, said: “These statistics show a very stark postcode lottery. It is worrying that the proportion of people receiving these vital health checks is so low in Swindon.

“It is vital people receive these checks as they are designed to flag up some of the serious complications that can be associated with diabetes, including heart and kidney problems and amputations.

“Every person with diabetes deserves to receive the nine checks recommended by NICE.

Diabetes UK hopes to work closely with Swindon CCG to help them achieve better care for all people affected by diabetes, and ensure more people receive these checks in the future.”

A spokesman for Swindon CCG said: “Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group acknowledges that despite improvements the number with diabetes who are not receiving annual checksis not at the level we would like to see. “Swindon CCG is working closely with Diabetes UK, NHS England, local GPs, and local care providers to ensure as many patients as possible are monitored to ensure they can effectively manage their diabetes.”