NHS England and Public Health England are inviting the public to give feedback on the new National Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP). The programme, which was announced in March and is currently being trialled in seven local authorities and GP services around England, is due to begin in 2016, with complete coverage expected to be rolled out by 2019.
The NDPP will involve GPs identifying patients who are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes (via blood glucose testing) and referring them to the programme. While the programme is still in development and will vary slightly in different areas, a successful programme will involve the following:
- Patient participation for at least 9 months.
- At least 16 hours of contact with a trained member of staff.
- Information and support around weight loss, physical activity and different elements of the diet, such as fats and fibre.
- Group sessions, regular discussions over the phone and/or activity online.
CCGs and their local authority partners have been invited to apply to be “first-wave” sites. These will be the first local communities to implement the new services. They are invited to submit expressions of interest by 25th September 2015.
In addition, feedback from prospective service users and other members of the public has been sought. The following specific questions are being asked:
- What are your overall views on the programme?
- What would be important to you about the way that services should be delivered (e.g. would you be more likely to attend if they were provided outside of normal working hours)?
- How far would you be prepared to travel to participate in the programme?
- Are there any aspects of the proposed service that would be likely to dissuade you from wanting to participate in the programme?
- What should we do to make the programme easier for people to participate in irrespective of their ethnic backgrounds, their age, gender, their physical abilities, or any other factors?
Members of the public are invited to submit their views by 18th September.
Full information on the NDPP and the consultation process for healthcare providers and CCGs can be found here.
The consultation document for potential service users and the general public, produced by Diabetes UK, can be found here.
