The challenge

The new southern SHA region includes Kent, Sussex and Surrey in the South East, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Avon, Somerset, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in the South West and Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight in the centre of the region.

The area has a total population of 13.3 million residents and NHS Diabetes is committed to making sure everyone with diabetes in the region has access to the right care and treatment.

NHS Diabetes regional highlights

• Establishing regional paediatric networks
• Worked with South Central Strategic Health Authority (SHA) and the NHS Institute for Innovation to improve inpatient care across the region. Three hospitals successfully implemented the ThinkGlucose tools and techniques and addressed local issues. A learning network was developed to share and disseminate practice. Information is being gathered on the outcomes, which will be published shortly.
• Produced a new DVD with NHS Berkshire West aimed at people with diabetes to remind them of the importance of having regular eye checks. The film shows the impact of diabetic retinopathy and explains the importance of having a regular screening check.
• A comprehensive health needs analysis was completed across the two paediatric networks in the South Central SHA area, with data supplied by service providers and commissioners. This led to the understanding and sharing of current service provision, including models of service, mapping funding arrangements and current outcomes for children and young people across South Central.
• Worked with NHS Devon to develop a standard care model for Devon so patients experience the same level of care in all services. NHS Diabetes provided support through the generation of a cost benefit analysis, based on the experience seen in neighbouring Torbay. This was used as part of the business case for the model of care.

The culmination of several years of hard work came to fruition with the launch event for a new diabetes healthcare professional education programme at NHS Plymouth. Aimed at all primary and community health care professionals across Plymouth, the programme will support a new service model being implemented. It also consists of virtual clinics being rolled out across the city as part of a programme of change.NHS Gloucestershire has also been developing its model of care and NHS Diabetes has provided specific support in the review of diabetes education services across the Gloucestershire healthcare community – covering an evaluation of the existing services through to the development of an option appraisal.