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First hospital/GP based hub and spoke approach to diabetes care aims to 'hit diabetes for six!'
Heartfelt pleas to support the Stephanie Marks Diabetes Appeal were made yesterday (Wednesday 27th April) by the parents of Stephanie Marks and Cricketing legend Ian Botham OBE and his wife Kathy. They are supporting a £2.5m appeal for a dedicated resource centre and satellite clinics to improve diabetes care across north Surrey and south west London. Over £230,000 has already been raised by public support for the initiative towards the £500,000 public support target. A further £2m is now sought from corporate donors, research and development companies and the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.
You can download a view a short video of the event at:
http://www.stephaniemarks.info/appeal.wmv
Speaking at BMA House in central London, Ian Botham gave his backing to the appeal by describing the impact diabetes has had on his own family life. He said: "I am well known for the support I have given to leukemia research which came to my attention when I met patients with leukemia. But diabetes has had a more direct impact on my family and I believe it is essential that we raise awareness about this growing problem and how important it is that individuals manage their own condition. There are tough personal decisions to take as a diabetic and greater public awareness is key to making progress. It is clear that with predictions that 300 million people worldwide will have diabetes by 2010, I am pleased to be able to support the Stephanie Marks Diabetes Appeal and will be doing anything I can to assist."
Stephanie's father, Chris Marks, spoke from the heart about how proud Stephanie would be to know that a centre bearing her name was to be built. He said: "The support of local people for the appeal has been fabulous but imagine what we can do with the support of corporate and industry sponsors. Both Sue and I are pleased that Stephanie's dream of being a doctor will be carried through into this centre of excellence for patients, relatives and healthcare professionals."
Appeal Chairman Clive Thompson CBE outlined how the proposed service will benefit 450,000 people covering the area of north west Surrey and south west London.
He urged corporate donors to give generously in Phase II of the appeal and support a cause which has already gained a major local presence and is well supported by local people.
Speaking about the impact of diabetes Dr Mike Baxter, Consultant Diabetologist and Medical Director at Ashford and St. Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust, said: "By 2010 there will be three million people in the UK with diabetes and some 300 million worldwide including 50 per cent of the population of the United States. This is a disease of 'biblical' proportions. In the over 75s one in four people will be affected and much of this is caused because we are getting fatter and we have eliminated exercise from our lives.
Dr Baxter said the risks from diabetes are very real: "As a diabetic team we were all devastated by Stephanie's death. German statistics show that every 15 minutes there is a death; every four minutes polyneuropathy; every 19 minutes an amputation; every 90 minutes someone goes blind; and every four hours someone enters a dialysis unit - all linked to diabetes. This is a big deal!"
With regards to the proposed dedicated resource centre and satellite clinics, Dr Baxter said: "We know that we will be able provide better care and get more patients involved in the management of their own condition with facilities where we can provide education and training. We want resources at the centre and in the satellite clinics that will be useful to patients and their relatives just as much as we need to provide facilities for doctors and nurses."
Stephanie Jane Marks was born at St. Peter's Hospital in 1984 and died in June 2002. She was only 17. Stephanie had Type 1 diabetes for six years and sadly died as a result of complications. Friends and family describe her as vibrant, loving, caring and positive. Above all this, she epitomised optimism; to Stephanie, diabetes was merely a stumbling block that she would easily overcome in pursuit of her dream of becoming a doctor.
The Stephanie Marks Appeal was launched in June 2003 by Ashford & St Peter's Hospitals NHS Trust with the aim of raising awareness of diabetes and providing funding to create a specialist Resource Centre, together with a series of satellite clinics that will be established with the help of GPs who have a special interest in diabetes. The purpose is to provide first-class local accessibility to diabetes treatment, education and research, in a ground breaking 'hub and spoke' model of care.
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