After opening and speaking at a music festival in Flintshire at the weekend in memory of a musician who lost his life due to a serious condition that affects people with type 1 diabetes, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has today called on the Health Secretary to outline how she is raising awareness of the symptoms and complications of Type 1 diabetes.
On Saturday, ‘Ali Fest’ was held in memory of Alastair Thomas, known as Ali, who was a singer and musician from Flint.
Mr Isherwood was asked to speak at the event by Ali’s Mother, Dee Pinnington, about both the important part that all family and friends can play in supporting anyone who lives with Type 1 diabetes, and his part in taking Ali’s legacy to the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament.
In today’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood referred to the event when calling for a Welsh Government Statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services on raising awareness of the symptoms and complications of Type 1 Diabetes.
He said:
“In March last year I called for a Statement on raising awareness of diabetic ketoacidosis, or DKA, a complication of type 1 diabetes, after meeting Flitshire Mum Dee Pinnington, to discuss her Raising Awareness Campaign following the death of her son, Alastair, or Ali, Thomas, in 2018 from DKA.
“Speaking here last October, I noted that Dee Pinnington had arranged a music festival, Ali Fest 2024, in Flintshire on Saturday 6th July this year, with all funds raised donated to Diabetes UK (DUK) Cymru.
“I opened this festival last Saturday.
“Raising awareness for people who either live with, work with, have friends with or come into contact with anyone who has Type 1 Diabetes is vital, where understanding the symptoms and alerting medical services properly, so that they can categorise their help and prioritise an ambulance, can be the difference between life and death.
“I call for a Statement accordingly.”
Responding for the Welsh Government, the Trefnydd, or Leader of the House, Jane Hutt, stated:
“I have no question at all—doubt—that the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care completely understands. And the feedback, of course, from people with diabetes, particularly their own patient experience, in terms of symptoms and complications, is really important to feedback, and, of course, it will be made aware to all of those involved”.
