The charity Diabetes UK has said it has supplied more than 6,500 education packs to over 330 pharmacies across Birmingham and Solihull to help pharmacy teams and diabetic patients improve their understanding of the disease.

The packs were distributed by Diabetes UK Midlands and East to the pharmacies who will make them available to patients as part of their new medicine service consultations. The scheme coincides with Diabetes Awareness Month.

Contained in the packs is information on NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme as well as the NHS Low-Calorie Diet and MyDiabetes Healthcare programmes.

“Community pharmacies play a key role in the prevention, early detection, care and support of people with type 2 diabetes,” said Peter Shorrick, head of Midlands and East at Diabetes UK.

“These packs help people find all the information they need, empowering them through education and linking them to healthcare professionals, starting with their local pharmacist.

“We are also asking local pharmacy committees and integrated care systems to signpost pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy assistants to our upskilling online course so they can take on that important role.”

Twenty pharmacies in Nottingham have also received packs while more than 80 pharmacies in Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin will be included in the NHS England-funded scheme in February next year.