It is critical that the widest possible range of service user views is obtained.  This may be done through surveys, focus groups, engagement with local support groups or a combination of these approaches.

Whilst some service users or carers may be involved in local diabetes networks and will influence service commissioning and development, commissioners and providing organisations should continually strive to ensure that a wide diversity of user views is reflected in their work.

NHS Diabetes is dedicated to service user involvement as a matter of principle in all development and implementation work. For several years the team has supported a reference group of people affected by diabetes in partnership with Diabetes UK.  Although this work has now drawn to a close NHS Diabetes is still committed to the effective involvement of service users, their families and carers.

NHS Diabetes have been working in partnership with Diabetes UK on a 2 year project to develop and pilot a new approach to embed user involvement as a fundamental element in PCT (and GP consortia) service design and delivery. This work is completed and the excellent resources and learning that have been developed can be accessed at: www.diabetes.org.uk/MakingInvolvementHappen. 

Resources

Diabetes Personal Care Charter (PDF 6.5MB) created by the Hammersmith and Fulham Service user group who were one of the groups in the user involvement in local diabetes care pilot project.

An independent evaluation of the user involvement in local diabetes care project

• Executive Summary: Evaluation of the User Involvement in Local Diabetes Care project (Word 80KB)
• Full Report: Evaluation of the User Involvement in Local Diabetes Care project (Word 282KB)
  
• Key Messages: Evaluation of the User Involvement in Local Diabetes Care project (Word 61KB)