A DIABETES service for children has been praised by its young patients and their parents.

A survey into the experience of young people with the condition rates the Royal Alexandra Children’s Hospital in Brighton as better than the national average in almost every area.

The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit questioned 13,000 families using 170 paediatric diabetes units around the country.

More than 80 per cent of those who took part gave the Royal Alex service a score of nine or ten out of ten when they were asked if they would recommend the clinic to a friend or family member with a child who has diabetes.

Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust deputy chief of women and children’s services, Ryan Watkins, said: “We are delighted the young patients and their parents are satisfied with the service we are providing and we will continue to strive to make sure we keep up our high standards.”

Questions included how quickly patients were seen, whether they felt they were given time to discuss concerns, access to information and advice, and whether they received enough details about different aspects of their condition.