The Diabetes National Service Framework – a real opportunity?

Abstract

The Diabetes National Service Framework (NSF) represents a new style of this relatively new policy instrument. It sets clear 10-year targets but leaves a large part of implementation decision-making to local teams. It is clear that the central priorities of people with diabetes are therapeutic partnership, expert guidance and integrated service provision. These underpinning themes transcend all of the more specific objectives of the NSF. Realising both the themes and the specific objectives will, in many localities, mean tackling quite challenging transformational programmes. They will probably need to include changed ways of working and information systems development, as well as constructive partnership between primary and secondary care and between many different healthcare disciplines. This may appear a formidable task but having diabetes firmly on the 'must do' healthcare agenda for the first time creates a tremendous opportunity. The way physician specialists in diabetes, the natural local leaders, rise to the challenge will be a key determinant of whether this NSF leads to real improvements in the experience and outcome of care for people with diabetes.