DIABETES patients have criticised the service they receive after health chiefs were given a damning report by a watchdog.

Southampton Primary Care Trust was given an overall rating of "weak" for the level of support, care and education it provides for people with the condition.

It received the lowest possible rating in all but one of the categories.

Jill Steaton, south east manager of Diabetes UK agreed that the system in Southampton was not up to scratch.

She said: "The structured education programme does not meet the guidelines and that is certainly something they need to improve on. Good education has a cost attached to it and at the moment PCTs are saying they can't afford it."

Southampton City PCT blamed the poor result on a lack of feedback from patients. A spokesman said: "Due to advice from their professional body, only a few GP surgeries in Southampton took part in the diabetes service review, and too little information was gathered from our diabetes patients for the Healthcare Commission to be able to make an assessment of our diabetes services."

Hampshire Primary Care Trust was rated "fair" in the report while the Isle of Wight was judged to be "excellent".