Young people with Diabetes in County Durham and Darlington – The Work Continues

A group of disabled young people from the North East of England recently visited Brussels as part of the EY2010 European Year for Combating Poverty and Social Exclusion. See the attached link for their story...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/wear/hi/front_page/newsid_9180000/9180103.stm

Since 2002 Investing in Children has been working with children and young people who are diabetic and their local health services to improve the way those services are provided.

An initial report written by young people (The 730+ Report) highlighted the need for insulin pumps for young people who otherwise had in excess of 730 insulin injections per year.

Eventually young people persuaded the local PCT to provide a fully funded insulin pump service, and this has now become standard practice for children and young people across County Durham and Darlington which means that Co. Durham PCT is the biggest issuer of pumps in the UK. NICE guidelines have also now been changed to ensure that any child or young person can have a pump if it best meets their needs.

In addition to this there are other developments at Bishop Auckland General Hospital (BAGH), University Hospital North Durham (UHND), and Darlington Memorial Hospital (DMH) including:

• Connecting with U - a DVD has been created to be shared with a wider audience.

• ‘Management of Diabetes in School’ – a reference toolkit for teachers and support staff to support children and young people in school in Co. Durham & Darlington, has been developed in response to young people’s issues of lack of support in school.

• Newsletter - following on from the suggestion of the children and young people at BAGH for a newsletter, this is now produced for all children and young people across Co. Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust.

• Vouchers for Blood Sugar tests have been offered as an incentive for monitoring.

• Magazines and Comics - available in outpatients, chosen by the children and young people.

• Juice available in clinic – not just water

• Notice board for young people – not just for adults

• A computer workstation has been introduced – young people asked for more activities for teenagers to be made available during clinics.

• Age banded clinics - again following the success at one clinic, BAGH in negotiation with children and young people, age banded clinics have now been introduced to all sites in order for young people to meet with others of a similar age.

• Information files - young people have their own files so that they can keep the things they think are relevant to their own diabetes care.

•  ‘Getting Sorted’ – a programme offering Peer Support for ‘self care’ to young people with Diabetes has been commissioned in response to children and young people asking for further support to be made available. (A programme developed at Leeds Met University)

• A Young People’s Reference Group has been established supported by Investing in Children.

Continued improvements in 2010 include:

Nurse Practitioners – are now based centrally at BAGH. This enables good communication within the team and the service develops consistently.

Transitions Clinics – following the success of the transitions clinic in UHND, Transitions Clinics are now offered at all three sites.

Education – the team are looking to deliver training programmes to other health professionals and interested parties.

Trips and activities – the whole team (i.e. Consultants, Nurse Practitioners, and dieticians) organise activities for children and young people.

Felicity Shenton

Investing in Children Development Manager

28^th June 2010