Diabetes training programme shortlisted for HSJ award

By Editor
20th April 2018
Uncategorized

A training programme for healthcare staff developed by a diabetes nurse from North West (NW) London has been shortlisted for a HSJ award.

Diabetes consultant nurse Ruth Miller, from NHS North West London collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups, developed a 10-point programme to improve basic understanding and awareness of diabetes.

It includes a checklist of commonly seen errors and symptoms to provide frontline healthcare staff the right knowledge to effectively help people with diabetes. The programme is focused on type 2 diabetes and helps staff to recognise when there is a problem and how to provide and get the right help.

Ruth explained: “Diabetes can be a complicated condition and the individual’s treatment can change from day-to-day.” 

Originally Ruth developed the training programme in a previous role for hospital staff to ensure that staff delivering care to people with diabetes had the right basic skills. 

To increase the number of people this training can help, the programme is now being now being piloted in new settings across NW London, including training staff in nursing and care homes, mental health services (in the community and hospital) and haemodialysis centres (centres that exist to help people with kidney failure).

Since Ruth launched the programme, 640 healthcare professionals have been trained. Feedback has shown that staff feel significantly more confident in managing people with diabetes and there is evidence to show that it has also helped to reduce insulin and medication errors.

Tony Willis, Clinical Director for Diabetes for the NW London Collaboration of Clinical Commissioning Groups, said: This is a really important piece of work and it is great to see people with diabetes in NW London are already seeing the benefits. I am delighted it has been shortlisted for a HSJ safety award.”

The award is in the patient safety/education and training category and the ceremony will take place on Monday, July 9, in Manchester.

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