Updated feedback of issues with diabetes services in your patch

Dear All

I have conducted similar enquiries in the past and at this particular time would again ask for your help in supplying a brief report on any concerns regarding diabetes services in your area , especially those linked to any service changes, cuts or failure to replace staff who may have retired on be on sick leave.

I can reassure you that using the ABCD password protected members area should enable free discussion.

We recently met with Diabetes UK who are particularly keen that ABCD support the current push to stop any reduction in DSN posts (1)

There is an agreement that in June 2011 both ABCD and DUK will launch a major promotion of the vital need for a consultant  diabetologist led  expansion of whole system diabetes services, based on current service provision , our evidence of disparities of provision within England, and the Diabetes UK minimum core staffing levels for district diabetes care teams (2) .

This important document should be linked with the recent NICE Diabetes quality standards (3) and the NHS operating framework  for 2011-12 from Sir David Nicholson (4) which explicitly instructs local health commissioners and providers to ensure effective IP DM care and ready access to pump services.

Please email me directly as well if there are other related issues you need to bring to my attention.

Best wishes

Peter

Peter Winocour

Chairman of ABCD

peter.winocour@nhs.net

1. Message from Diabetes UK

Specialist diabetes services are facing challenging times. Diabetes UK is seeking details of where Diabetes Specialist Nursing services, in particular, are being threatened to raise awareness of where cuts will impact negatively on the care of people with diabetes. This campaign priority will help to launch Diabetes UK’s new Standards Watch campaign in the second half of 2011.

If you have any examples of DSN posts being threatened - vacant posts not being filled, existing posts cut within inpatients or the community, posts being moved onto general wards for example please contact Gavin.Terry@diabetes.org.uk.

2. Access Diabetes UK Commissioning Specialist Diabetes Services document

http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Professionals/Publications-reports-and-resources/Reports-statistics-and-case-studies/Reports/Commissioning-Specialist-Diabetes-Services-for-Adults-with-Diabetes---Defining-A-Specialist-Diabetes-UK-Task-and-Finish-Group-Report-October-2010/

 3. Access  the NICE QS  document 

 https://web.nhs.net/owa/redir.aspx?C=ef205a4e48ed4707919536dd371e52f0&URL=http%3a%2f%2fwww.nice.org.uk%2fguidance%2fqualitystandards%2fdiabetesinadults%2fdiabetesinadultsqualitystandard.jsp

4. NHS Operating Framework from CEO of NHS

 Diabetes

 4.47 All people with diabetes should be offered screening for early detection and, if needed, treatment of retinopathy. NHS commissioners and providers must do more to ensure insulin pumps are available for those people with diabetes that meet the criteria recommended by NICE.

4.48 PCTs should be commissioning the relevant structured patient education to support people newly diagnosed with diabetes and at appropriate points in their life as their condition progresses.

4.49 NHS providers should consider the overall management of inpatients with diabetes in order to reduce their length of stay, improve their experience of care, ensure that they do not develop diabetic foot complications whilst in hospital and that their blood glucose is managed safely. This is particularly relevant to the safe administration of insulin by healthcare professionals.