A new national programme developed by Children North East seeks to address longstanding health disparities among children with diabetes, as recent audit data reveals widening care gaps and financial burdens on families in deprived areas.
The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has commissioned a national Poverty Proofing® programme in an effort to narrow health inequalities affecting children and young people with diabetes, as new audit data points to continuing gaps in care and a heavier burden on families in less affluent areas. The programme, developed by Children North East, is designed to help health services understand how poverty shapes access to treatment, participation in appointments and the overall experience of care.
The move comes as the audit’s 2024/25 report showed that children and young people in more deprived areas still have poorer blood glucose control and less access to diabetes technology. It also recorded a 29% rise in caseload over the past decade, with 35,801 children and young people receiving care from paediatric diabetes units across England, Wales and Jersey. The report said 28% of people aged 12 and over with Type 1 diabetes missed at least one recommended health check, while the figure for young people with Type 2 diabetes was 60%.
The audit also underlined the financial pressure facing families. While the NHS covers many core aspects of diabetes care, the report estimated that the average monthly out-of-pocket cost of caring for a child with diabetes is £425.85. That includes items such as compatible smartphones for diabetes devices, medical supplies, transport to clinics, childcare and food. Diabetes UK has said 77% of people living with diabetes feel the rising cost of living is affecting how they manage their condition.
Children North East said its Poverty Proofing® Health Care approach combines staff training, consultation and evidence-based guidance to help services identify practical changes. The programme has already been delivered through 24 workshops for all 11 Children and Young People’s Diabetes Networks in England and Wales, involving more than 925 staff. Those sessions focused on local deprivation, audit findings and the experiences of children, young people and families. The resulting report recommends, among other things, better signposting to financial support, improved travel reimbursement, reduced stigma in healthcare and fairer access to diabetes technology. Simon Fountain-Polley, a consultant paediatrician at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “Most of the time in clinic, people put on their best faces… unless you ask, you don’t necessarily pick up what’s really going on.”
The audit said the programme has already prompted changes in clinical practice, and Children North East argues that many of its lessons apply beyond diabetes to other paediatric services as well. The organisation is urging teams to adapt the findings locally in an effort to reduce barriers to care and make services more equitable.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
