Vital medical care for thousands of diabetics is set to be improved thanks to a pioneering venture harnessing the latest in computer technology.

More than 250 diabetics from Bingley and Keighley will be the first in the country to have details of their care constantly updated using a new computer programme launched tomorrow.

Soon all 4,000 diabetic patients at 20 GP practices in the new Airedale primary care group will be on the system which will give doctors instant access to the often complex medical histories of patients.

The network - believed to be the first developed for diabetics in the country - could be extended to other patient groups to boost care by enhancing communication between NHS staff working in different locations .

Dr John Parry, who heads the information technology group for the Airedale PCG, said the initiative funded by a £40,000 grant including Health Action Zone cash from Bradford Health Authority was an exciting step forward. It had attracted major interest from other areas.

Diabetics who gave their consent at the Holycroft surgery in Keighley and the Springfield surgery in Bingley would be the first to have their medical history on the system.

Patients of consultant Dr Richard Pope at Airedale General Hospital would also be included before it was extended to all diabetics in the area.

Dr Parry said diabetics often needed help from a huge range of staff from family doctors, district nurses and chiropodists to hospital specialists.

People using the system would get an up-to-date position on the care of the patient and be able to add information to help others.

A number of security safeguards had been built in to prevent unauthorised entry into private medical records.

The network would improve communication and aid planning for treating diabetes which is more common in the area than other parts of the country and a major call on resources, accounting for 10 per cent of NHS expenditure.

"Diabetes is a slow fuse disease and if care is as good as it can be the potential to reduce early death and also chronic ill health is huge," said Dr Parry.

"It requires a team approach in care from the outset. Better communication and an enhanced rapport in the team translates to better patient care.

"It will cut the amount of paper produced, speed things up by details just being written straight into the record and will be reliable and accurate."

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