The care received by patients was assessed by an independent panel

Both the NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk and NHS West Suffolk clinical commissioning groups (CCG) received the rating for 2016/17 meaning that more patients across the county are receiving the care they need to keep a check on their diabetes.

To qualify as outstanding the CCG’s had to achieve certain levels of patients achieving NICE recommended treatment targets in regards to cholesterol,blood pressure and blood sugar.

Assessors also looked a the number of newly diagnosed patients who had attended education sessions to help them manage their condition.

Dr Mark Shenton, chair of NHS Ipswich and East Suffolk CCG, said: “The ‘outstanding’ rating is obviously very welcome, but we mustn’t rest on our laurels and need to continue doing all we can to further improve our results in this field.”

The latest rating comes only four years since the west Suffolk CCG was ranked 209th out of 211 in the country with less than a third of patients locally having recorded control of their blood pressure, blood sugar and cholestrol levels at the time.

In 2016 the CCG moved to 81st with progress continuing to be made through a number of different projects.

Specialist diabetes nurses from the West Suffolk Hospital now work with nurses in 19 GP practices on how patients can manage their condition closer to home.

Primary care staff have also been trained to carry out annual checks to treat or signpost patients with the condition more effectively.

Dr John Clark, lead consultant diabetologist at West Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is a great example of joint working between GP teams and the hospital diabetes service to improve care for people with this condition.”

Dr Christopher Browning, chair of NHS West Suffolk CCG, said: “We have put considerable effort into making services for patients better, and we are delighted that this has been recognised.

“Despite these excellent results, we are not complacent and will be working hard to improve still further by rolling out our education programmes more widely and ensuring patients have the necessary skills to self-care and stay well for longer.”