Northern Ireland

Concerns people with diabetes are 'falling through the cracks' amid easing of lockdown

A charity that supports people with diabetes said people with the condition are concerned about returning to work
A charity that supports people with diabetes said people with the condition are concerned about returning to work A charity that supports people with diabetes said people with the condition are concerned about returning to work
By Suzanne McGonagle

There are concerns that people with diabetes are "falling through the cracks" amid the easing of lockdown restrictions, a leading charity has warned.

Diabetes UK NI said people with the condition are concerned about returning to work with more than 700 people signing an open letter to Executive ministers calling for more robust protections for clinically vulnerable workers.

The charity said it believes not enough is being done by the Northern Ireland Executive to support clinically vulnerable workers as lockdown eases.

It is calling for more clarity in its commitment to ensure clinically vulnerable people are kept safe at work.

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It also comes after a survey by the charity revealed that in Northern Ireland 44 per cent of people had an issue with their employment arrangements, including anxiety about being able to socially distance.

There are fears that employers are not able or willing to support changing their working arrangements, despite being classed as vulnerable to coronavirus.

Tina McCrossasn, Diabetes UK NI national director
Tina McCrossasn, Diabetes UK NI national director Tina McCrossasn, Diabetes UK NI national director

Tina McCrossan, national director of Diabetes UK NI, said many questions remain about workplace safety for clinically vulnerable people.

"The message from people with diabetes is clear; they are scared about their health as lockdown eases, and they want to know how they are going to be protected," she said.

"But what is also clear is that - in the haste of the Executive to get the economy up and running again with the reopening of many businesses and facilities - the needs of people with diabetes are not being considered, and further clarity is required to ensure clinically vulnerable people are kept safe at work as lockdown eases.

"Without more robust guidance, employers will continue to decide their own ‘acceptable risk’ with no safeguards for individual staff, or consequences for non-compliance.

"We reiterate our calls, which we have been doing for weeks, to ensure that additional measures and safeguards are in place to keep people with diabetes safe.

"The Executive must do more and take this opportunity to present clear and extensive guidance so that people with diabetes will not continue to fall through the cracks."