Ineqaulity stands and diabetes

Disability

NHS Diabetes is working to improve diabetes services for people with mental health problems. A project was started in October 2010 to raise awareness about diabetes management, treatment and complications among mental health care professionals working with people with mental illness who develop diabetes. Education sessions will be provided by a Diabetes Specialist Nurse for Community Psychiatric Nurses (CPNs) working with people with mental health problems about management, treatment and complications of diabetes.

Gender – women and pregnancy

A project in Bournemouth is giving vital support to women with diabetes in the build up to and during pregnancy. The project, called Diabetes Concept, aims to engage women before they fall pregnant by involving pharmacists in information distribution. There is also the opportunity for a fast-track referral into the Joint Obstetric Clinic that the Pharmacist can activate.

Age – older people

Care homes staff in an Essex Primary Care Trust are being given the opportunity to take more responsibility in the care of residents with diabetes through education sessions and new guidelines. Education sessions are run, within guidelines, by diabetes specialist nurses. One area of focus is training senior carers to undertake blood glucose monitoring.

The result of the guidelines and programme of education, supported by the Care Standards Commission, is an improvement in the quality of care, a more responsive service to the resident and cost savings for the PCT.

Age – younger people

Transition from paediatric to adult care in Salford is being catered for by a Young Persons Diabetes Team who offer a One Stop Shop approach, enabling young people with diabetes to access services under one roof
at one appointment. Involving both paediatric and adult staff means that youngsters transferring into or out of the YPDT retain some continuity in the staff they see. The clinic is held in the evening, resulting in high attendance rates.

Race

Southampton City has a diverse population with a large Polish and Asian community. A survey carried out by Solent West Podiatry Service showed poor uptake of podiatry services by the black and minority ethnic (BME) population.

80% of Southampton’s BME population lives in one area of the city. The closest podiatry service to this area was three miles away. For 1 year a monthly half day drop in clinic was held at a community centre used by the city’s BME population. The clinic was staffed by community podiatrists who gave patients advice and support and were able to refer them on to a clinical setting for a full assessment and treatment where appropriate.

The next phase consisted of delivering foot health advice sessions to specific BME groups of patients and carers, to groups of other allied health professionals and to social care professionals. The foot health sessions were adapted to be suitable for the specific audience, but included advice on general foot health and specific diabetic foot problems. Where appropriate interpreters were used at the sessions. Optional drop in clinics were also available after the advice sessions.

A twice monthly podiatry clinic is now running at a hospital located within the main BME population area in Southampton. 32 percent of patients attending the new clinic are from a BME background.

Since moving the clinic to a location within the main BME population area, DNA rates are down to 22 percent.