Primary Care Diabetes Society launches in the UK

The epidemic of diabetes is upon us. Now, at last, governments and healthcare systems are putting together strategies that (they hope) will quell the rising tide. New educational initiatives will focus on the promotion of healthier lifestyles. There is renewed media interest in the prevention and early detection of diabetes.

This is happening at a time of great change in the National Health Service. The National Service Framework for diabetes, together with the new General Medical Services contract, has brought diabetes to the fore, and placed it firmly in the primary care domain.

A new forum for debate
Healthcare professionals in primary care need a new forum for debate, a new organisation to promote discussion and awareness of the modern management of diabetes and its complications – to act as a professional voice in the new healthcare environment.

We are proud, therefore, to announce the formation of the Primary Care Diabetes Society. This group will support primary care professionals to deliver high quality, clinically-effective care in order to improve the lives of people living with diabetes.

We will build a database of key opinion leaders working in primary care. We will forge close links with many organisations, including Diabetes UK, the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD),  the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and Primary Care Diabetes Europe (PCDE).

The journal and a national conference
Diabetes and Primary Care will become the official journal of the society. We will continue to bring you high quality articles, features and topical debate.  In addition, the society will be launching an active website offering online registration. Our first national conference will be in November 2005.

Welcome to the new society. It is your society, and will evolve to reflect and represent your views, ideas and opinions. Join, contribute and have a voice.