This newly established paediatric diabetes network brings together clinicians, commissioners and service users across the North West to improve services and share good practice.

Type 1 diabetes is increasing in children of all ages and particularly in the under 5s. Diabetes affects not just the young person but their family, carers, friends and schools. Diabetes management is becoming increasingly complex with pump therapy, multi dose injection regimes and continuous glucose monitoring. This requires a specialist multidisciplinary team dedicated to educating and improving outcomes, with far reaching health consequences into adult life.

There are 28 childrens diabetes centres in the North West Region, each with different strengths and challenges. NICE guidance, National Service Frameworks and Department of Health documents are very clear about the levels of service that should be provided for children with diabetes and the newly established network will enable each centre to compare progress and identify gaps.

Childrens diabetes is on the national health agenda with moves towards a `best practice tariff`. A national diabetes audit has been established for several years and the network, with a regional coordinator, will strengthen this process and allow more local analysis and service development in this vital and under resourced area.

Next meeting

The dates of the meetings in 2012 are:

• 9th February 2012
• 12th June 2012
• 18th October 2012

Contact

Please contact the network coordinator Ruth Gordon: ruth@ruthgordonassociates.co.uk, mobile 07885608524 for further details.

The network is chaired by Dr Chris Cooper, Consultant Paediatrician, Stockport and supported by NHS Diabetes through Trudi Akroyd, Head of Commissioning, Mobile: 07733 303088