_{15th May 2012}

Diabetes care provision 'crisis' in England

Campaigners are warning that diabetes care in England is in "crisis" - with less than half of people getting the basic care they need.

Diabetes UK warns there are some areas where only 6% of people are getting the recommended regular checks and services.

Its head said the State of the Nation 2012 report showed people with diabetes were getting "second rate care".

Ministers said the report would encourage local NHS services to act.

Diabetes is now the biggest single cause of amputation, stroke, blindness and kidney failure.

Spending on the condition accounts for around 10% of the NHS budget.

Diabetes UK says that because so many people are missing out on the relevant checks, there has been a rise in complications such as amputation, blindness, kidney failure and stroke.

Such complications account for about 80% of NHS spending on diabetes, it says.

A National Service Framework for diabetes was drawn up in 2001, but the charity says its recommendations are not being followed.

For more on this see the BBC News website.