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Thousands to benefit as first wave of NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme national rollout is announced

Up to 100,000 people in England will be offered places on the world’s first nationwide programme to stop them developing Type 2 diabetes.

Healthier You: the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme will start this year with a first wave of 27 areas covering 26 million people, half of the population, and making up to 20,000 places available. This will roll out to the whole country by 2020 with an expected 100,000 referrals available each year after.

Those referred will get tailored, personalised help to reduce their risk of Type 2 diabetes including education on healthy eating and lifestyle, help to lose weight and bespoke physical exercise programmes, all of which together have been proven to reduce the risk of developing the disease.

There are currently 2.8* million people with Type 2 diabetes in England with around 200,000 new diagnoses every year. While Type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented and is not linked to lifestyle, Type 2 diabetes is largely preventable through lifestyle changes.

One in six of all people in hospital have diabetes – while diabetes is often not the reason for admission, they often need a longer stay in hospital, are more likely to be re admitted and their risk of dying is higher.

Simon Stevens NHS England’s CEO said: “Around 500 people every day find out they’ve got Type 2 diabetes – a serious but often preventable health condition. By offering targeted support for at-risk individuals, the NHS is now playing our part in the wider campaign against obesity – which is already costing the country more than we spend on the police and fire service combined.

“The benefits for patients will show up as hospitalisations prevented, strokes avoided and amputations averted. This programme is a reminder that the ‘H’ in NHS stands for health.”

Seven demonstrator sites have been testing innovative approaches to programme delivery for the last year and this learning has shaped the final programme to get the best results for patients.

Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Public Health England (PHE), said: “Type 2 diabetes is one the biggest health challenges of our time and millions of people in England are at risk of developing this serious disease.

“This personalised, tailored programme for people at risk will offer support on improving their lifestyle habits, including getting more exercise, a better balanced diet and losing and keeping off excess weight – helping people to take more control of their health and ultimately prevent them developing what is potentially a life threatening condition.”

The programme launch coincides with PHE’s new national campaign, One You, which encourages people in midlife to take control of their health and make better lifestyle choices – helping them to prevent ill health and help them live well for longer.

Chris Askew, Diabetes UK Chief Executive, said: “That people in England identified at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes will be offered personalised support to help them to eat well, become more active and maintain a healthy weight is therefore a significant step in the right direction. This will provide them with the best possible chance of reducing their risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, and living a long full healthier life.”

Secretary of State for Health Jeremy Hunt said: “Diabetes can have a devastating effect on health – and much of the impact of type 2 diabetes is preventable, so the case for this new initiative is clear.

“This government is determined to allow more people to take control of their own health, and we will be looking closely at the results of this programme.”

In a phased approach the 27 areas will open their doors to patients in the next few months and throughout 2016.

Over nine months patients will be offered at least 13 education and exercise sessions of one to two hours per session, at least 16 hours face to face or 1-to-1 in total.

Four providers have been chosen to join the NHS Provider Framework and local health services will work with their chosen provider/s to deliver a service for their area.

Healthier You: the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is run collaboratively by NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK.

The first wave sites were chosen as they already had significant infrastructure in place to support volumes of referrals from the start.

Three quarters of clinical commissioning groups joined forces with local authorities to bid to become part of the first wave and will now work with providers to develop a service over the next few months.

The NHS DPP was launched in March 2015, initially in seven ‘demonstrator’ sites which have been trialling different models of finding people known to be at high risk and helping them change their lifestyles.

Learning has been taken from these sites to inform the programme.

Read the blogs

* This figure was corrected from the previously published 2.6 million on 20 May 2016.

50 comments

  1. NHS England says:

    Hi

    Thank you for your interest. The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme in its first year of roll out and as yet is only available in 27 areas of the country. It is important to note the NHS DPP is being rolled out in waves and may not be available in your area at present. By 2020 we expect a hundred thousand referrals, with the NHS DPP available across the country. Please see our website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/diabetes-prevention/ to see if the programme is available in your area in wave one.

  2. Ted Le Seelleur says:

    Please can you tell me how I can become a participant in this trial? My postcode is ME10 3LB

    • NHS England says:

      Hi

      Thank you for your interest. The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is not a trial, it is in its first year of roll out. By 2020 we are expecting 100,000 referrals, with the NHS DPP available across the country. To qualify for a place you need to be referred by your GP or via an NHS Health Check.

      It is important to note the NHS DPP is being rolled out in waves and may not be available in your area as yet. Please see our website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/diabetes-prevention/ to see if the programme is available in your area.

  3. Charlotte Anderson says:

    My son would like to be a patient in this programme. His postcode is ME10 3LB Sittingbourne, Kent.
    Is there any way he could be included please?

    • NHS England says:

      Hi

      Thank you for your interest. The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is not a trial, it is in its first year of roll out. By 2020 we are expecting 100,000 referrals, with the NHS DPP available across the country. To qualify for a place you need to be referred by your GP or via an NHS Health Check.

      It is important to note the NHS DPP is being rolled out in waves and may not be available in your area as yet. Please see our website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/ourwork/qual-clin-lead/diabetes-prevention/ to see if the programme is available in your area.

  4. Jonny says:

    I am an occupational therapy student and for an impending essay would like to know how many occupational therapists are employed by the scheme?

  5. Rosie says:

    I would be very interested in making an application to work in this programme in Norfolk/Norwich. Have I missed the recruitment for this area or is it still being organised? I have seen jobs for other areas but not this one.
    Thank-you.

  6. Bethany says:

    Do you know which provider has been selected for the County Durham area?

  7. Kathryn says:

    Can you tell me which company has been commissioned to provide the NHS DDP in the south east and more specifically which areas are included please.

    • NHS England says:

      Hi Kathryn

      The tender for services in the south east is currently running and a provider will be appointed in due course. Berkshire is a first wave site in the south central area and Reed Momenta is the provider for that site.

      Regards NHS England

  8. melanie davis says:

    Can you tell me which company has been commissioned to provide the NHS DPP in the Birmingham area please.

  9. Lu Wainwright says:

    at what point of “at risk” does one become eligible for this programme, low/medium/high/IGR???
    are there any other eligibility criteria ?

    • NHS England says:

      Hi Lu

      The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is designed for people who have been identified as being at high risk of developing the disease. Your GP will be aware of your blood sugar levels which will indicate whether you are in that high risk category.

      For further clarification, please visit the NHS Choices site for the clinical risk threshold: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes-type2/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx

      NHS England

  10. sylvia Livett says:

    does this mean that if your under 40 and at risk you will be able to get into the walk away from diabetes or other prevention programmes

    • NHS England says:

      Hi Sylvia

      The ‘Walk away from Diabetes’ is commissioned locally, so we are unable to share advise on enrolment and its qualification process. We would advise you to contact them directly.

      The Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme is a nationally commissioned programme and is for those who are 18 years of age or older and at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

      Currently we have rolled out phase one of the programme which cover 27 sites across the country, covering 45 % of the population of England.

      We are currently working on rolling out phase two. By 2020 we hope to have full coverage for the programme with an expected 100,000 referrals
      available each year after.

      Regards

      NHS England

  11. colin hayward says:

    This is good
    but the lack of info on how to get on it is very poor
    and my GP does not know any thing about this
    why is allways a mess when new things start
    all people want is 1} to know about it 2}when it will start with date 3} how to get on it with contact details
    why does NHS ENGLAND go the long way round

    • NHS England says:

      Having announced the 27 sites we’re working with providers to deliver the programme in those areas. The procurement process will be relatively short and once the NHS DPP is ready to enrol individuals on to the programme, information will be made available locally.

  12. Jo Gardner says:

    It’s a great idea, I really hope people in England will see “The light”

  13. Dr Rasheed says:

    I am a GP we have identified over 250 patients with impaired fasting glycaemia that we offer diet lifestyle and weight management advice and weight management referral where is this service going to be delivered locally ?
    Basildon and Brentwood CCG area

  14. Lyca Downing says:

    There was the war on salt and now we need a war on sugar and marketing of multi buy, larger portion rubbish in supermarkets. So called “healthy options” , hidden sugar and false advertising and the minefield of temptation / and unnecessary rubbish food. Physical education has reduced in schools, families having to work longer and more, mentally and physically drained before thinking about “exercise”. I have the knowledge as a diabetes nurse but I am also exhausted and weak willed. My daughter is type 1 diabetic. Life revolves around food! It’s everywhere! Add the blessing and curse of modern technology . Things are only going to get worse! Individuals have choice but oh how hard the modern world is making it! Education and exercise sessions are all very well but these have to be sustained in the long term not just a pilot project in only certain areas. There needs to be a massive global top down and bottom up approach to prevent this tide of unhealthy living.

    • Jo Gardner says:

      Have been type 1 for 45 years. Consultant endocrinologists saw this problem coming 40 years ago and before then! Post WW2. We are our environment. Human beings have not been here for long in perspective to the planet. I wonder, have we got the intelligence or rather the common sense to sort ourselves out? Mm mm.

  15. jacqueline Marshall says:

    I am a GP.I have almost 400 diabetic patients.
    How do I refer my patients to this scheme?

    • NHS England says:

      This programme is designed to catch people on the cusp of developing Type 2 diabetes and to lower their risk factors. This is done through encouraging increased physical activity, a healthier diet and managing their weight, to bring their blood sugar levels out of the risk zone. Unfortunately this programme is not available to people who already have Type 2 diabetes.

  16. Roy Boddington says:

    As a personal trainer soon to be qualified in health referral could you tell what areas are being covered and who the designated suppliers are please

  17. Benjamyn Damazer says:

    In a phased approach 27 areas will open their doors to patients in the next few months and throughout 2016:

    Newham
    West London
    Oldham
    East Midlands
    Camden
    Sefton
    Leeds
    Worcestershire
    North West Cheshire
    Cumbria
    Dudley
    St Helens
    North East Lincolnshire
    East and North Hertfordshire
    Bury
    Berkshire
    Norfolk and Norwich
    Rochdale
    Southwark
    Essex
    South East
    Birmingham
    Derbyshire
    Herefordshire
    Cambridge and Peterborough
    Durham Dales
    Sheffield

    Over a minimum of nine months patients will be offered at least 13 education and exercise sessions of one to two hours, at least 16 hours face to face or 1-to-1 in total.

  18. DR ROBIN JACKSON says:

    What a waste of tax payers money!!! “Eat less, move more”. That is all the advice you need. When I started in the NHS in 1977, Type 2 diabetes was a rare disease.Since then, many,many people have become fat and idle, and hence the condition is reaching epidemic proportions. Everyone needs to take personal responsibility for their life-style choices.

  19. Robin Giles says:

    What about support for people who already have type 2 diabetes. I have had type 2 for a number of years, and I get little or no help or support in coping with it.

  20. V.KANESANATHAN says:

    Iam an insulin dependent diabetic my son is an obese i would like to find out more about the the NHS diabetic prevention programme nationaly rollout in 21 areas
    please let me have the list of 21 areas so i could ask my son to takepart in one of
    this site.

  21. Jerry Keane says:

    I am interested in supervised diet and exercise programme to minimise my risk of developing diabetes. There is a history of diabetes
    in my family .

  22. Maureen says:

    |I was diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes last July (2015) since then I have lost two stone in weight. I am wanting to go back to the gym to help me carry on losing weight but because my husband is now a pensioner I cannot afford it. Will I be eligible for the exercise program? I am determined to lose the Diabetic label by my yearly cheek in July. The Diabetic nurse at my surgery is pleased and said I am well on the way.

    • NHS England says:

      Thank you for your interest in the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

      Unfortunately you do not qualify for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme as you have already been diagnosed with Type 2. It may be beneficial to check with your local council to see if it offers reduced rates for people in your situation.

  23. Charles Balchin says:

    My doctor has told I have pre-diabetes. How can I get into one of these ‘Healthier You’ courses to manage this?

    Thank You

    • NHS England says:

      Thank you for your interest in the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

      Currently the 27 sites are working through implementation of the programme in their areas. Significant progress has already been made and we will announce which sites are active in the coming months.

      In the meantime if you want to understand more about the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, your personal risk of the condition and the steps you can take to lower your risk please visit NHS Choices: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes-type2/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx.

  24. Chris Bland says:

    Brilliant idea, community pharmacy is ideally suited to identify support and help make this a success. Are we involved?

    • NHS England says:

      Thank you for your interest.

      Currently referral routes are through NHS Health Checks and GPs.

  25. Ian Doyle says:

    Which are the 27 areas identified in the Wave one roll out?

    Also you mention Four providers have been chosen, who are these?

    Thanks

  26. Christine Massey says:

    Which areas is this scheme going to be used and how do you get put on it

    • NHS England says:

      Thank you for your interest in the Healthier You: NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme.

      Currently the 27 sites are working through implementation of the programme in their areas. Significant progress has already been made and we will announce which sites are active in the coming months.

      In the meantime if you want to understand more about the risk factors for Type 2 diabetes, your personal risk of the condition and the steps you can take to lower your risk please visit NHS Choices: http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Diabetes-type2/Pages/Diagnosis.aspx.