A STRATEGY has been approved to change the way people with diabetes are treated.

The South Durham Health Care NHS Trust board has approved the strategy, which encompasses primary, intermediate and secondary care.

Proposals have been drawn up to develop a new level of care via community-based satellite clinics run by GPs and practice nurses, supported by specialist staff.

Secondary care will be used to focus on providing rapid-access specialist services for patients with special needs, such as children and pregnant women.

Trust chief executive John Saxby said: "We are trying to get more of diabetes managed in primary care. That is really where we are seeing the development of this in the future."

But he said: "Some will still need access to secondary care in the hospital."