A DIABETES pressure group has sent the health service thank you cards - for improvements in care it expects to be carried out.

More than 50 cards have been sent to Darlington Primary Care Trust by members of the local branch of Diabetes UK, reminding the authority of its obligations set out by Health Secretary Alan Milburn.

The card reads: "Thank you for all you are going to do to improve diabetes services over the coming months and years - I am sure you will make a start right away."

More than 3,000 people in Darlington have the condition and medical experts estimate up to 1,400 others have it without knowing.

Trust clinical governance manager Liz Graham said: "The cards have been sent to us in anticipation of what we must achieve. We have already made a start and have an implementation group up and running to improve care for diabetes sufferers."

The group includes patients, members of Darlington Primary Care Trust, Social Services, GPs, community nurses and podiatrists.

Plans include health promotion initiatives to help change people's lifestyles by encouraging more exercise and healthier diets.

A strategy to tackle obesity will also be published.