This network brings together key stakeholders in the provision of diabetes services to children and young people across the West Midlands.

The network initially developed out of the Midlands Paediatric Endocrinology Group following a national meeting to discuss the way forward for diabetes services for children and young people.

The network is chaired by Dr Jeremy Kirk Consultant Paediatric Endocrinologist at Birmingham Children’s Hospital, supported by NHS Diabetes and steered by a core group including Dr Chizo Agwu, Dr John Scanlon and Dr Kathryn McCrea.

The network meets quarterly and its overall aim is: To raise the quality of paediatric diabetes care across the region improving outcomes and quality of life for children and young people affected by diabetes and their parents and carers.

The network’s key initial objectives are focused on developing criteria and approaches for assessing the current state of services in the region including peer review. The learning from this work will inform the development of a consistent, high quality service specification, developed nationally and regionally but flexible enough to be shaped to meet local needs.

The network is also keen to see developments around:

• Out of hours care
• Transition between children’s and adult services
• Ensuring 100% returns for the National Diabetes Audit
• Supporting and improving commissioning and primary care provision
• Involving Service Users
• Structured education

Contact

For further details or to get involved contact Network Coordinator Lawrence Kent: lawrence.kent@nhs.net or Julian Backhouse (Programme Manager for NHS Diabetes):
julian.backhouse@diabetes.nhs.uk

See the network pages and the West Midlands Paediatric Network Terms of Reference for additional information.