Diabetes patients in Bradford have been given a voice by health bosses, who have set up a focus group.

Up a dozen patients will meet every six to eight weeks to discuss how they think diabetes services can be improved and to raise awareness of the condition which is widespread in Bradford.

Diabetes nurse consultant, Margaret Bannister, along with diabetes nurse specialist Beverley McDermott, ran the first meeting of the group yesterday at the Horton Park Centre in Bradford.

The group - made up of diabetes patients from within Bradford City Primary Care Trust (PCT), the organisation which provides healthcare for people living in inner city Bradford - spent two hours talking about how they would like to see services develop.

Mrs Bannister, who is one of only two diabetes nurse consultants working in the north of England, said: "The reason behind the focus group is that for Bradford City PCT, diabetes has been identified as a priority.

"Within the PCT the incidence of diabetes is very high. It if far more common within the South Asian population and 55 per cent of the patients seen within City PCT are South Asian, so that is a lot of people.

"We want to make sure we get the perspective of patients on how to move services forward and for them to feel involved in the process."

City Primary Care Trust is working towards ensuring there is a diabetes clinic staffed by specialist nurses, dieticians and podiatrists within every GP surgery.

"It is our target that will happen by March 2004," said Mrs Bannister. "That is how the majority of patients will receive their care.

"We also have satellite clinics staffed by specialist GPs, nurses, dieticians and podiatrists for patients who are at the point of requiring insulin treatment.

"There is also diabetes care within Bradford Royal Infirmary for people with acute problems. A lot of time and effort has been put into providing good quality care in Bradford and we are continuing to look at new ways to develop that care."