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Much has been said about the role of the Care Quality Commission in recent times – a murmur has gathered pace with the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care questioning the role of regulation. £211 million is the figure regarding the CQC and maybe it's time for some sense checks, as well as for the CQC to consider the next phase of its development.

For starters, let’s be honest – nobody likes to be examined or regulated. We, hopefully, all go to work believing to be able to do the best for our patients – so any external regulation raises the question whether we are or not. Sadly, past events have suggested there probably is a need for this – and the question is whether CQC needed to exist whether all trusts and staff had done enough with their internal processes. That’s what, perhaps, CQC needs to tackle... a step away from the criticism and be more of a guide. Shine a light but also make robust suggestions, share examples from their travels where it's better. There is little point in saying “you are not good” if you can’t be a support to improve or indeed give suggestions as to how to do so within present financial constraints.
Interrogate success, not failure – that possibly needs to be how CQC functions.

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A diabetes researcher is to receive an international award for his work in medical science, it has been announced.

Professor Andrew Hattersley will be presented with the prestigious Royal Society GlaxoSmithKline prize, which is only awarded every two years.

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Users of a type of insulin pump could be at risk of hyperglycaemia because of battery issues, it has been revealed.

Manufacturers Roche Diabetes Care has warned users of the Accu-Chek insulin pump to be wary of rapid pump battery depletion or an unexpected shut down because people are fitting the wrong type of battery to their unit. To read more, click here.

A Diabetes Specialist Nurse is appealing for healthcare professionals to donate medical equipment ahead of a trip to Ghana. To read more, click here.

A project designed to reduce preventable sight loss through diabetes in the South Asian community is to be extended, benefitting an extra 17,000 people. To read more, click here.

Children who exercise frequently could slash the risk of getting type 2 diabetes in later life, a study has suggested.

Researchers at the University of Exeter believe physical activity gives the greatest benefits to young people’s insulin resistance. To read more, click here.

A teenager with diabetes was left “humiliated” after being disqualified from a driving exam for taking a blood glucose meter with her. To read more, click here.

Genetic testing could be key to providing better care for children with neonatal diabetes, according to a study. To read more, click here.

A comedian who had his right leg amputated because his diabetes was not diagnosed early enough plans to take his life-changing story to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this month.

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