PREGNANT Bradford women with diabetes are getting the full support they need in contrast to the national picture, it has been revealed.

A England-wide report has shown many women with diabetes who become pregnant are at increased risk of complications because of a lack of preparation for pregnancy, despite national guidelines.

But a spokesman for NHS Bradford City and NHS Bradford Districts Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) said they worked closely with all women to ensure they had the most appropriate care for a healthy pregnancy.

The National Pregnancy in Diabetes Audit 2015, published by NHS Digital, Diabetes UK and the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership, found that few women with diabetes who became pregnant were well prepared, resulting in increased risk of congenital abnormalities, stillbirth and large babies.

However, in Bradford all pregnant women are offered a glucose tolerance test because there is a higher than average prevalence of diabetes and gestational diabetes. The test means diabetes can be diagnosed early and women get a prompt referral to diabetic services if needed.

A weekly diabetic clinic, jointly run by the maternity and diabetic services at Bradford Royal Infirmary, also means all women with diabetes are cared for at the one place. The two services also continue to work together if any of the women need to be admitted to hospital because of their diabetes.

The spokesman said Bradford’s diabetic service also provided pre-conception advice to women who were known to have diabetes and arranged early referral to the maternity service when women become pregnant.

He added: “When women with gestational diabetes leave hospital their records clearly identify them as being at higher risk of developing the same issue during future pregnancies, so their GP is aware. This also allows better monitoring of these women who are at higher risk of developing diabetes at a later stage.

"We also actively identify women who have had gestational diabetes and support them by offering our lifestyle change programme to reduce the overall risk of developing diabetes."

Last week it was revealed by NHS England that Bradford Districts CCG was one of 11 with the 'greatest need for improvement'. That report did not specifically look at diabetes care.

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