Colliers Wood GPs are leading the fight against diabetes after a scheme first tested in a local surgery was launched around the country.

The scheme, piloted at the Colliers Wood Surgery, is designed to provide targeted information to patients who do not have the condition under control.

After the successful trial period, the scheme was launched by Diabetes UK, the NHS and private providers.

"It’s great to be able to give patients personalised information empowering them to take control of their condition," said Dr Farooq Ahmed, GP at the surgery in the High Street.

Dr Ahmed said: "The information prescriptions have really helped me to explain to my patients who have diabetes how some simple lifestyle changes can deliver measurable change in their health."

The ‘information prescriptions' are documents, designed to give each patient a detailed action plan on how to improve their health.

Diabetes UK London manager Roz Rosenblatt said: "These plans can play an important role in empowering people to take control of their condition which is really vital."

This will in turn reduce the risk of long-term complications such as amputation, blindness and kidney failure as well as reduce the costs to the NHS.

Professor Jonathan Valabhji, national clinical director for obesity and diabetes, said: "The personal cost to individuals and the financial cost to the NHS of diabetes complications are immense. Information prescriptions are a really positive development."