SHARP variations in the number of specialist diabetes consultants have been revealed in the region.
Information released at the start of Diabetes Week shows that while the North-East is comparatively well off, there are big differences within the region.
While the North-East has almost double the number of consultants per person than the South-East, there are wide local variations.
In the region, Tyne and Wear had the highest number of consultants, with 1.59 per 100,000 people, County Durham and Tees Valley comes next with 1.15 per 100,000 people, and North East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire has 0.62 per 100,000.
This compares with an English average of 0.95 per 100,000.
Paul Streets, the chief executive of Diabetes UK, said: "Although this is generally positive news for the North-East, people with diabetes should not have to worry about whether they will get a fair deal from the NHS just because of where they live."
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