Part 1: Introduction

1.1
In June 2007, we presented a performance audit report to Parliament on the effectiveness of the Get Checked diabetes programme, Ministry of Health and district health boards: Effectiveness of the "Get Checked" diabetes programme (the Get Checked report). In 2008, we followed up on the actions that the Ministry of Health (the Ministry) had taken in response to the recommendations we made in the Get Checked report. We included the results from this follow-up in Performance audits from 2007: Follow-up report, which we published in March 2009.

1.2
In Performance audits from 2007, we said that we would follow up on the responses to our recommendations for district health boards (DHBs). Accordingly, in 2009, we asked DHBs to report to us on their progress with the recommendations. This document is the result of our follow-up work with DHBs.

About our 2007 Get Checked report

1.3
In the Get Checked report, we reported that the Get Checked programme (the programme) had, in general, improved certain aspects of diabetes management. These improvements included:

• an increase in the number of people taking part in the programme;
• a heightened awareness of diabetes;
• improved monitoring of patients;
• better guidance provided to general practitioners (GPs) on diabetes treatment and referrals to specialist diabetes services; and
• the use, in some areas, of innovative programmes to remove barriers for people accessing diabetes care, particularly Māori and Pacific Island peoples.

1.4
We made 18 recommendations¹ to improve the quality of the programme data and the effectiveness of the programme. We consulted with diabetes expert Professor Sir Donald Beaven when drafting the report and forming our recommendations.

Structure of this document

1.5
The information presented in this document is based on the DHBs’ representation of the actions, as reported to us in 2009, that they had taken in response to our recommendations.

1.6
We have grouped the recommendations into five parts. In Part 2, we discuss our recommendations about DHBs identifying who has been diagnosed with diabetes and whether they are getting checked.

1.7
In Part 3, we discuss our recommendations about DHBs analysing, reporting, and using information from their diabetes services.

1.8
In Part 4, we discuss our recommendations about DHBs checking the quality of diabetes services provided to patients diagnosed with diabetes.

1.9
In Part 5, we discuss our recommendations about DHBs making it easier for patients diagnosed with diabetes to take part in the programme.

1.10
In Part 6, we discuss our recommendations about DHBs working more effectively with their local diabetes teams (LDTs).

1.11
Appendix 1 sets out how the recommendations from the Get Checked report correspond to the sections of this document.

1.12
In each Part, we pose questions that DHBs can use to consider how effectively they are implementing the programme. Appendix 2 lists all the questions we pose.

1: One of the recommendations was aimed only at the Ministry and we do not deal with that recommendation in this document.