Diabetes patients in Jersey 'wait too long' for care

People are having to wait too long for diabetes care in Jersey, says a charity.

Diabetes Jersey is working with the island's health service to provide an extra doctor and nurse to help people with disease.

Consultant in diabetes Dr Peter Bates said it was unacceptable to have waiting lists for diabetes care.

He said people could be left with serious complications if they did not receive care more quickly.

One islander, Geraldine Des Forges, was diagnosed with the condition when she was pregnant with her second child.

She said last year she waited about 16 months for an appointment at the Diabetes Centre.

Diabetes Jersey is paying £165,000 for the diabetes nurse over the next three years. After that the health service will fund the post.

But the charity said there were concerns the number of people with diabetes in Jersey was doubling every six to eight years.

Dr Bates has warned one in 10 people in Jersey will have diabetes in the future unless people change their unhealthy lifestyles.