NEWS
CORONAVIRUS UPDATE (7)
AA
new report states
diabetes teams have
learnt how to adapt to
the 'new normal' amid
Covid-19 but must reengage with people who may feel lost in
the system.
Since the UK lockdown began in
March, outpatient clinics were cancelled
across the NHS and replaced with remote
consultations. Trend Diabetes examined
how things within the health service have
changed and how the future may look
once it is over.
Consultant Nurse Lesley Mills from
the Warrington and Halton Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust formed a working
group of healthcare professionals working
in different settings to review practice,
challenges and innovation designed to
meet the needs of people with diabetes
who normally attended face-to-face clinic
appointments.
She said: "We think future diabetes
consultations will combine a mix of
face-to-face appointments with online
meetings, bringing together aspects of the
traditional service with new technologies."
The findings of the working group,
with input from Diabetes UK and ABCD,
were collated in a report, was authored by
Trend Diabetes Co-founder and Co-chair
June James, who said: "The document
did flag up concerns about mental health
services and how they may not work as
well being carried out remotely.
"But the general consensus is that
should the second COVID-19 wave
become extreme, it's imperative diabetes
services continue to function rather than
being completely shut down again. The
ability to operate a virtual service will
definitely build in a degree of flexibility
to allow this to happen and this should
be considered in the design of any new
service from now on."
"Overall, we think diabetes teams
have learnt how to adapt to new ways
of working and it is important that these
skills are not lost. In many ways they
have helped healthcare professionals
to streamline services and to ensure
that those people who really need to be
seen face to face can be seen in a timely
manner.
"However, some individuals with
diabetes may feel they have been lost in
the system during the pandemic, so it is
important the healthcare professions reengage with them when introducing
new
ways of working.
Read the full report at
www.trend-uk.org
Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK worked with NHS London,
Novo Nordisk and Insulet to set up a
platform to supply immediate clinical
advice to insulin-treated diabetes, if
you can't access your usual care team.
The dedicated NHS Diabetes Advice
helpline is available to call on 0345123-2399
(0141-212-8710 in Scotlanhelpline@diabetes.org.uk9am-6pm.helpline.scotland@diabetes.org.uked staff on
helpline@diabetes.org.uk or
helpline.scotland@diabetes.org.uk
for Scotland.
Diabetes UK's Covid-19 page: diabetes.
org.uk/coronavirus
JDRF
The charity has offered tips to help people
with Type 1 diabetes and recommends
following @_diabetes101 on Twitter where
a group of healthcare professionals can
signpost you to expert information. JDRF
is also encouraging people to read its blog
to connect with the Type 1 community,
CLICK HERE to read.
And, while big meet-ups aren't on the
agenda right now, JDRF is making the
most of virtual meet-ups, which is also
raising much-needed funds for research
and support.
The charity hosted its first fun online
quiz in May, raising over £10,000. Another
Quiz2Cure is planned for June.
jdrf.org.uk/coronavirus
Support
Dedicated NHS Diabetes Advice helpline
0345-123-2399
.net
...for regular news updates
NEWS
REPORT