Henry, 5, highlights the plight of diabetic pupils

Nov 19 2008 By Russell Butt, Staines News

A five-year-old diabetic boy from Egham is championing the cause of other young sufferers so they can receive help for their condition at school.

Henry Cramer, of Tinsey Close, joined other children with diabetes who visited the House of Commons yesterday (Tuesday) with representatives of the charity Diabetes UK, to tell MPs how some school are not giving their diabetic pupils the help they need.

Henry is one of the lucky ones. He receives his daily insulin injections from the nurse and secretary at his school, Manorcroft in Egham, who were trained by Surrey Primary Care Trust. They also monitor his glucose levels. But not all schools are prepared to take that responsibility and Henry and the other children's mission was to ask MPs to urge schools to do as Manorcroft do.

Henry was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes in June and it was a staff member who originally drew attention to the possibility that something might have been wrong with Henry.

But not all school kids get that sort of help, says Diabetes UK.

Despite the school's care Henry's mother, Karen, is still alarmed by her son's condition and sad that Henry feels different from the other children. He is one of only two diabetics at his school.

She said: "I am on tenterhooks every day that he's at school. I won't go too far and I have changed my shopping day to the weekend so that I am not far from the school."

Karen, who travelled with her son to the Houses of Parliament, said they hoped to meet their MP, Conservative Philip Hammond and other MPs.

"There is not enough awareness about diabetes in schools in England," she said.

Regional manager for Diabetes UK, south-east, Jill Steaton, said: "The Government needs to ensure that pressure comes from the top down to implement existing legislation so that local authorities, primary care trusts and schools can work together to have effective policies in place to support children with diabetes.

"It is appalling that some children with diabetes are not getting the support they need to live a full school life."

The parliamentary visit was also planned to raise awareness for World Diabetes day, which was on Friday. .