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Type 1 Diabetes: Infant Testing
09 March 2026
Lead MP
Irene Campbell
North Ayrshire and Arran
Lab
Responding Minister
Sharon Hodgson
Tags
NHSBrexit
Word Count: 13074
Other Contributors: 24
At a Glance
Irene Campbell raised concerns about type 1 diabetes: infant testing in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Campbell asks for mandatory testing for type 1 diabetes in babies, toddlers, and young children as part of routine medical assessments. She also calls for public awareness campaigns to help parents recognise the signs of type 1 diabetes and for increased accountability in primary care. Rimmer called for funding to ensure that infants can be offered routine testing for type 1 diabetes, aiming to make access to life-changing diabetes technology available to all who need it, regardless of postcode.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Irene Campbell is concerned about the missed diagnosis of type 1 diabetes in infants, which can lead to life-threatening conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). She highlights the story of Lyla, who tragically died due to the missed diagnosis of type 1 diabetes. Campbell also mentions that over 120,000 signatures were gathered for the petition, indicating the widespread concern about this issue. She discusses the lack of national screening programmes for type 1 diabetes and the ongoing ELSA study, which aims to reduce emergency diagnoses. Campbell also raises the issue of insufficient time for GPs to diagnose type 1 diabetes due to time pressures and high patient loads, leading to potential missed diagnoses and patient safety concerns. Marie Rimmer expressed concern about the tragic case of Gracie, a one-year-old diagnosed with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis, highlighting the importance of early detection to save lives. She noted that Gracie's story had a happy ending, but many families are not so fortunate, emphasizing the need for routine testing for type 1 diabetes in infants. Rimmer welcomed the work of NHS England's national task and finish group and the ELSA study, but stressed that evidence from such studies must reinforce the lesson that early detection saves lives.
Alistair Carmichael
Lib Dem
Orkney and Shetland
Alistair Carmichael, despite a late arrival due to flight delays, spoke about a constituent's experience of needing to persistently seek diagnosis for her child, stressing the need for increased awareness of symptoms and supporting Lyla's law.
Amanda Hack
Lab
North West Leicestershire
Amanda Hack shared stories from constituents affected by late diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, highlighting symptoms such as weight loss, thirst, and frequent urination. She emphasized the importance of screening to save lives.
Anna Gelderd
Lab
South East Cornwall
In South East Cornwall, 177 residents signed the petition. Does my hon. Friend agree that when the first warning signs appear, we must ensure access to simple tests, including a finger-prick test, that can save their lives? I want to recognise a local family: Alison and Mylor have travelled here today to make the case directly. On behalf of all residents in South East Cornwall, I thank my hon. Friend for making this incredibly important debate happen.
Caroline Johnson
Con
Sleaford and North Hykeham
Caroline Johnson, an NHS consultant paediatrician, highlighted the importance of early detection of Type 1 diabetes and the need for increased awareness among doctors, families, and the public. She discussed the ELSA study aimed at detecting diabetes before onset and the potential benefits of medication like teplizumab. Johnson also raised concerns about disparities in HbA1c levels among different racial groups and the need for better blood sugar control technology for patients.
Christine Jardine
Lib Dem
Edinburgh West
Christine Jardine highlighted the need for public awareness of type 1 diabetes symptoms and the importance of training, noting that people with type 1 diabetes themselves often lack awareness of their symptoms.
West Dunbartonshire
Commended Diabetes Scotland for its efforts to improve testing and early diagnosis in Scotland and highlighted a constituent's daughter's close call with a late diagnosis.
Helen Maguire
Lib Dem
Epsom and Ewell
Helen Maguire expressed her concern about the tragedy of children being misdiagnosed with type 1 diabetes, leading to a life-threatening condition. She called for clear guidance for medical professionals to identify type 1 diabetes promptly and for a named GP system for patients diagnosed with the condition. Maguire also urged for more research funding and the reversal of the employer national insurance contributions hike to support medical research.
Iqbal Mohamed
Ind
Dewsbury and Batley
Paid tribute to Lyla Story and her parents for their campaign, noting over 120,000 signatures nationally and requesting a national public awareness campaign explaining the four Ts across various platforms, and a mandate for a finger-prick blood glucose test for children presenting symptoms.
Josh Newbury
Lab
Cannock Chase
Josh Newbury shared the story of a young boy named Toby, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at 20 months, to highlight the importance of early diagnosis. He praised the mother's recognition of symptoms and the quick action taken to avoid ketoacidosis. Newbury also paid tribute to Lyla and her parents for their campaigning efforts and emphasised the need for change through awareness of such cases.
Julia Buckley
Lab
Shrewsbury
Julia Buckley apologised for causing distress to type 1 diabetes campaigners and shared the story of a family whose child was diagnosed with type 1 after a traumatic experience with healthcare professionals. She expressed hope that the NHS plan would address prevention and primary care.
Laurence Turner
Lab
Birmingham Northfield
Laurence Turner highlighted the impact of misdiagnosed type 1 diabetes in children, sharing stories of constituents who nearly lost their lives due to incorrect diagnoses. He emphasised the importance of a national screening test programme, referencing the ELSA study's feasibility, and asked the Minister to update the House on the external advisory committee's process for reconsidering a new infant screening programme.
Lee Pitcher
Lab
Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme
Expressed the inspirational nature of families turning grief into action for type 1 diabetes awareness, highlighting the importance of a quick finger-prick test for glucose and urging the government to raise awareness through all levels of governance.
Luke Akehurst
Lab
North Durham
The ELSA study proves the need for wider screening, because of the 17,000 children screened, seven were already living with undiagnosed type 1 diabetes severe enough to require immediate treatment and a further 160 had early-stage type 1 diabetes. The study results from Birmingham show that screening needs to be rolled out across the country to save lives.
Melanie Onn
Lab
Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes
My hon. Friend is laying out, in a very careful and considered way, the importance of the screening process and the ease with which it can be implemented to avoid more tragic stories like Lyla's. Does she agree that mandatory screening is essential, because most children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes have no family history of the condition, and it would be the quickest and easiest way to ensure that we do not have any more unnecessary tragedies?
Peter Fortune
Con
Bromley and Biggin Hill
With NHS England set to be abolished, how does the hon. Member suggest the Government ensure that awareness for testing for type 1 diabetes continues? Does she agree that it should not be left to fall by the wayside or be picked up by organisations such as Diabetes UK? Peter Fortune agreed with the need for more support for those with type 1 diabetes and raised concern about the high cost of type 2 diabetes care, which accounts for about £11 billion in the UK, and the majority of diagnoses being type 2.
Ruth Jones
Lab
Newport West and Islwyn
Ruth Jones spoke about the tragic case of Peter Baldwin, a 13-year-old who died from undiagnosed type 1 diabetes, highlighting the preventability of his death through early testing. She noted that 40% of child diagnoses occur only once they reach critical care, underlining the importance of robust medical guidance and equipment for primary care sites to prevent further fatalities.
Sarah Bool
Con
South Northamptonshire
Paid tribute to Lyla Story, a two-year-old who died from undiagnosed type 1 diabetes, and highlighted the need for routine testing for type 1 diabetes in infants. Emphasised the importance of updating NICE guidelines to include finger-prick testing at GP appointments and advocated for a 'test, don't guess' approach. Called for NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care to implement these changes to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis. Stressed the need for training healthcare professionals on the four Ts and ensuring all GP practices have finger-prick tests available. Announced a 10-minute rule Bill for a universal national screening programme for type 1 diabetes in children.
Seamus Logan
SNP
Aberdeenshire North and Moray East
Seamus Logan highlighted the importance of the Lyla's law campaign and called for improved education and routine testing for type 1 diabetes in children to prevent life-threatening conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis. He cited Scotland's initiative to offer C-peptide blood tests and Italy's nationwide screening programme as examples of successful implementation. Logan noted that childhood type 1 diabetes rates in the UK are among the highest globally, ranking fifth for children aged 14 and under.
Steve Witherden
Lab
Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr
Some 17,600 people in Wales are known to be living with type 1 diabetes. In 2018, the Cardiff and Vale university health board introduced a series of quality improvement initiatives to support earlier diagnoses. As a result, it has recorded the lowest average incidence of DKA over the past six years compared with the rest of Wales. Does my hon. Friend agree that this approach should be adopted across all health boards in Wales and throughout the rest of the UK?
Tom Gordon
Lib Dem
Harrogate and Knaresborough
Tom Gordon highlighted the urgent need to improve the recognition and diagnosis of type 1 diabetes, citing the example of Lyla Story and the importance of the four Ts symptoms. He called for better awareness, education for healthcare professionals, and the availability of glucometers in every GP practice to ensure timely diagnosis. Gordon also discussed the potential of early screening to identify the condition before symptoms appear. Tom Gordon inquired about the future role of Healthwatch in scrutinising diabetes care services and questioned whether clinicians had adequate funding to implement new guidelines.
Tom Hayes
Lab
Bournemouth East
I am representing my constituent David. His son fell unwell, but the GP surgery did not recognise the symptoms and he had to be blue-lighted to a hospital the same evening. He has now recovered—in fact, he has now raised £500 for Breakthrough T1D and Diabetes UK. David wanted me to give a special thank you and shout-out to the children's unit at Poole hospital and the children's diabetes team at University Hospitals Dorset. Does my hon. Friend agree that we need all GP surgeries around the country to recognise the symptoms and to take all necessary action when they are detected?
Tracy Gilbert
Lab
Edinburgh North and Leith
Shared the story of a constituent's son who died from diabetes and urged the Government to consider similar changes for Scotland to improve type 1 diagnosis and care.
Unspecified Member
Unspecified Party
Unspecified Constituency
The unspecified member agrees with the points raised by Irene Campbell and looks forward to the Minister's response.
Victoria Atkins
Con
Louth and Horncastle
Victoria Atkins, diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at age three, urged the Minister to ensure future guidance emphasises that infections and viruses can be symptoms or triggers of Type 1 diabetes, to prevent further tragic misdiagnoses.
Government Response
Sharon Hodgson
Government Response
It is a pleasure to serve under the chairmanship from the Dispatch Box, Sir Alec. I thank my hon. Friend the Member for North Ayrshire and Arran for opening this important debate, following the petition related to funding for infants to receive type 1 diabetes testing and routine care. The petition received 120,000 signatures after the tragic death of two-year-old Lyla Story from diabetic ketoacidosis. I pay tribute to Lyla's parents, John and Emma Story, for their passionate campaigning. NHS England raised awareness of the four Ts during World Diabetes Day and published a RightCare toolkit. The minister recognises that more needs to be done and NHS England is working on better support for GPs to diagnose patients quickly. NHS England is exploring how IT can be used to support accurate diagnoses and is funding research through the NIHR to develop and test novel approaches for diagnosing type 1 diabetes earlier. The NHS is rolling out hybrid closed loop systems for children, increasing usage from 36% in 2023-24 to 70% in 2025-26. The minister acknowledges that screening for antibodies would not have helped Lyla but suggests that screening for autoimmune type 1 diabetes through blood testing may be considered in the future. NHS England is looking to improve the red book for increased awareness among parents and families. The minister expresses her admiration for the efforts of Mr and Mrs Story and hopes that the work currently being taken forward across diagnosis and awareness shows the seriousness with which the issue is being taken.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.