Call out to South Asian community for diabetes care experiences
News - 5 January 2021
South Asian people living in Cambridgeshire are being asked to share their diabetes experiences.
Across the UK, diabetes is a growing health problem for the South Asian community, where Type 2 diabetes is up to six times more common.
Your stories about diabetes services are wanted to help make sure care is joined up and working well.
Who we want to hear from
South Asian people – including those of Indian, Bangladeshi and Pakistani ethnicity – in Cambridgeshire who have been diagnosed with pre-diabetes or diabetes.
What you can tell us
You can tell us about:
Your diagnosis with your GP
How services such as footcare clinics, eye screening, dietary advice, exercise groups and pharmacies or voluntary groups are working to help you treat or manage your diabetes.
Any social care you are using.
Your experiences matter because …
The information you share with us will go to Healthwatch England and NHS England to help map out how well health and care is joined up. They want to find out what is and isn’t working - and why - so that patients get better care and outcomes.
Have your say today
Please take a few minutes to pass on your experiences.
Do you or a loved one need help with everyday tasks, support at home, or care after illness or injury? Adult social care may be able to help.
Social care is different from the treatment you receive from the NHS. While it can include some medical support, social care focuses on practical help so people can live as independently as possible. This care is usually delivered at home, in a care home, or in the community rather than at a GP practice or hospital.
Understanding what support is available – and how to pay for it – can feel overwhelming. Here are the key things you need to know.
✅ How do I get help through adult social care?
The first step is to contact your local council’s adult social care team and request an assessment.
Depending on your situation, you may receive:
A Care/Needs Assessment – if you need support yourself
A Carers Assessment – if you provide unpaid care for someone else
Discharge to Assess / Home First – if you have just left hospital and need support at home
NHS Continuing Healthcare (NHS CHC) – for people with very complex medical needs and ongoing care requirements (this involves a separate assessment)
Assessments are free, and all adults aged 18 or over are entitled to one.
✅ Who can access adult social care?
You may be able to receive support if you are:
An older person
Living with a disability or long-term condition
Recovering from illness, surgery or hospital treatment
Struggling with daily activities at home
If you have family or friends helping with your care, you may not need to pay for all services. Unpaid carers can also receive support with training, wellbeing and respite breaks.
If you qualify, your council will work with you to create a personalised care plan tailored to your needs.
✅ How do I pay for social care?
The council will carry out a financial assessment (often called a “means test”) to decide whether:
Your care will be free
You will contribute towards the cost
You will pay the full cost
This assessment looks at your income, savings, property and other financial assets.
If you qualify for financial support, your council will give you a personal budget that can be used to pay for local services.
Some people with very complex health needs may receive free NHS Continuing Healthcare. If not eligible, you may still qualify for NHS-funded nursing care, where the NHS pays for nursing support in a care home.
✅ What support can social care provide?
Local authorities are responsible for arranging care services. These may be delivered directly by the council, or by local care providers.
Support can include:
home care - personal care including task such as washing, dressing, personal hygiene and food preparation
residential/nursing care
supported accommodation/extra care housing
day services - social activities, meals, health support, meeting others
equipment/adaptations - to support independent living
information and advice
respite care - short-term care so unpaid carers can take time off
reablement - short-term support to help people regain skills after illness or injury
✅ Where can I get more information?
All local authorities have an information and advice service to help you understand:
Care assessments
Eligibility and financial support
Choosing care providers
Personal budgets
Advocacy
Safeguarding concern
If you or a loved one are struggling to get the social care you need, we want to hear from you. Your experiences help us challenge local services and improve support for everyone.
📞 Contact Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
📧 information service@healthwatchcambspboro.co.uk
✅ What’s your experience?
Is getting the support you need too complicated?
Have you been refused care or struggled after hospital discharge?
Click on the link below, to access more Healthwatch England information, to contact Cambridgeshire County Council or to tell us your story.
Your feedback helps services improve.
Healthwatch Cambridgeshire and Peterborough’s latest Enter and View report highlights overwhelmingly positive experiences from patients using the new Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) in Ely and Wisbech. The visits, carried out in August 2025, found that people valued shorter waiting times, modern facilities, and kind, attentive staff. However, the report also identifies opportunities to improve accessibility and communication, particularly around appointment locations, transport, and patient information, as lessons are shared to inform the development of the forthcoming Peterborough CDC.
Many people looking after family members or friends are reaching breaking point due to not getting the support or recognition they need. This article signposts you to local and national support to help you in your caring role.
