New diabetes inpatient guidance and service templates in response to COVID-19

Guidance on ensuring basic and secure diabetes services are maintained during the coronavirus pandemic has been published.

The National Inpatient Diabetes COVID-19 Response Group, which has been set up to support diabetes teams in their reorganisation, has released two new documents.

Chaired by Professor Gerry Rayman MBE, the group has already published its first document, Concise Advice on Inpatient Diabetes (COVID: Diabetes) Front Door Guidance.

The latest documents released by the group, include:

• Template for defining diabetes services during COVID-19 Pandemic
• Maintaining Acute Diabetes Services in response to COVID-19

The aim of ‘Maintaining Acute Diabetes Services in response to COVID-19’ document is to provide some detail on how maintenance of a level of specialist diabetes service can be achieved during COVID-19.

These documents are intended for those involved in delivering and redesigning diabetes services during this pandemic. Professor Rayman

The ‘Template for defining diabetes services during COVID-19 Pandemic’ is based on the NHS ‘Clinical guide for the management of acute diabetes during the coronavirus pandemic’ ref 001559. The body of the document has been retained but space has been provided for you to populate to describe your local arrangements.

Professor Rayman MBE, Chair of the National Diabetes Inpatient COVID Response Team, said: “As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic all clinical services will be working differently for the foreseeable future. These documents are intended for those involved in delivering and redesigning diabetes services during this pandemic. They recognise the importance of maintaining certain elements of the diabetes service which will be essential in reducing the burden on hospitals and supporting inpatient teams.”

The National Diabetes Inpatient COVID Response Team also includesDr Alistair Lumb, Dr Brian Kennon, Chris Cottrell, Dr Dinesh Nagi, Emma Page, Debbie Voigt, Dr Hamish Courtney, Helen Atkins, Dr Julia Platts, Dr Kath Higgins, Professor Ketan Dhatariya, Dr Mayank Patel, Dr Parth Narendran, Professor Partha Kar, Philip Newland-Jones, Dr Rose Stewart, Dr Stephen Thomas and Dr Stuart Ritchie.