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Download a copy of the St Vincent Declaration here. |
The St. Vincent Declaration is the most important document ever published in diabetes care because it was an unanimous agreement of health service providers about the level of diabetes care to be achieved in Europe over the following five years. Representatives of government health departments and patients' organizations from all European countries met with diabetes experts under the aegis of the WHO Europe and the IDF Europe in St Vincent , Italy , in October 1989.
In the Republic of Ireland , the Irish St. Vincent Group came together in the early 1990s as a voluntary group, under the auspices of the Diabetes Section of the Irish Endocrine Society. Over a four-year period it compiled a report of then current diabetes services and made recommendations that a national diabetes programme be instigated. This report was published in 2000 and formally presented to the Minister for Health and Children in March 2001. The report highlighted the serious variation of diabetes patient services in the country and showed the considerable savings that could be made by improving diabetes care. The report demonstrated the benefits for patients in terms of better health through the prevention of complications. It stated that financial savings would be most evident in acute hospitalisation and amputations in the short term, and for nephropathy and retinopathy in the long term.
In 2001, the Diabetes Federation of Ireland initiated the Diabetes Service Development Group in the absence of any government led incentive. The group met as an independent group consisting of healthcare representatives currently providing diabetes care in Ireland and relevant patient interest groups. Patient representation was through submissions invited through Identity (the Irish patient association publication), individuals within the group, organisations, written reports, focus groups, questionnaires and interviews. The main issues with the current service for patients were long waits at clinics, doctor’s agenda at consultations, interruptions during consultations, nondedicated time by staff to the individual, environment was not conductive to communication, and their own non participation in care. Other members of the group proposed that it was unacceptable that many patients could only avail of private primary care and that all persons with diabetes should be able to avail of primary or secondary care of their choice without financial repercussions.
It is unclear if the recommendations of this report will ever be implemented. However, the endeavours of the Diabetes Service Development Group in completing such a detailed plan to fulfil the targets of the St. Vincent Declaration must be applauded. The publication of the report outlines for all persons what must be done. It is now up to everyone to do their part in moving the campaign forward and getting better services for all persons diagnosed or undiagnosed with diabetes in Ireland.