THE team behind caring for children with diabetes in Bolton has been named the best in the region and one of the best in the UK.

Bolton NHS Foundation Trust paediatric diabetes team scored the highest in Greater Manchester and fifth highest in England and Wales for its care, according to the latest National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA).

The team attribute its success to a focus on patients being able to have as much face to face time with the relevant health care professional as they need.

Dr Vengudi Sankar, consultant paediatrician and lead for the Children’s Diabetes Service said: "We’re really pleased to be in such a strong position regionally and nationally, but primarily that our service is having such a positive impact amongst our young patients.

"The whole team support and complement each other’s work to ensure that we’re always giving the best care possible to the children and their families.

"We’ve embraced all new technology associated with modern diabetes treatment fully and this has started bringing improvements for our patients."

The NPDA found that Bolton was out performing other trusts, with 84.6 per cent of all young people aged 12 and above receiving all measures required against a national average of 35.5 per cent.

All children and young people with Type 1 diabetes should be tested on blood pressure, thyroid, body mass index and foot examination. They also have an overall measure of how their diabetes is being controlled and managed.

The audit also measures the percentage of children that receive structured education around their condition. Bolton ranked at 95.5 per cent against a national average of 71 per cent.

The children’s diabetes nurses and dieticians in Bolton regularly work together with schools, educating and supporting school staff in managing the children’s diabetes.

However, Dr Sankar added that there were still opportunities to progress and develop the service.

He said: "We’ve invited and included parents’ representation in our service’s governance processes and this has been invaluable. We review various aspects of our work regularly and put in place measures to improve care delivery in an ongoing manner.

"All this said; there is a lot we can do further to continue to improve, and to sustain this improvement."