NEWS ROUND-UP

1997 Lilly Diabetes Care Award Winners The 1997 Lilly Diabetes Care Awards were won by the following people:

0 Carol Carson (Lothian) An innovative nursing approach to improving care for diabetic adolescents

Diabetes care <’the Wirral way” - ensuring continu@ of care forpcrtstnts with ctiabetes who aftend the W M Hospitalfor investigations

Ethnic focused diubetes

0 Lesley Metcalf and MV Devlin ( W i d Hospital)

0 Patricia Birdsall and June James (North West Anglia)

Carol Carson An innovative nursing approach to improving care for diabetic adolescents The Diabetes Focus Group in Lothian identified the need to improve services for adolescents with diabetes. The post of specialist nurse for diabetic adolescents was created in 19% to specifically care for them. The post covers five hospital trusts over a large area, both urban and rural.

Eighteen months into post, all of the aims of the post and the duties of the post-holder have been met. Additional developments within each trust have been facilitated, which have benefitted not only this particular group but, by releasing staff, have allowed individuals to develop their services and benefit other groups with diabetes. Staff have also benefitted by being able to develop their skills in other areas of diabetes care. The post has been viewed with

R O E H A M P T O N I N S T I T U T E L O N D O N An l d m o f c b e OmiwdyofEmy

Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma, and MSc in Diabetes (subject to validation)

Starting February 1999

Multi disciplinary

Part-time, one day per week

Distance learning mode

Designed to offer nurses, dietitians, chiropodists and medical practitioners a qualification in clinical practice linked specifically with the care of diabetes. Located at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Fulham Road, London and validated by Roehampton Institute London.

For further d e t a i l s pkase contact: Dr C Mclntosh, Department of Therapeutics, Chelseu and Westminster H o s p a 369 Fdbam Road, London, SWIO 9NH. Tek 0181 746 8144 or Dr Chris Rodgs School of Life Sciences, Roehampton Institute London, West H q London, SWII 3SN. 7’ek 0181 392 3S32.

ROEHAMFTON M S m LONDON, AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER. WsrS TO ADVANCE AND DEVELOP HIGHER EDUCATION, RESEARCH AND SCHOLARSHIP

great interest by diabetes teams from other geographical areas. With the incidence of insulin-dependent diabetes in young people increasing, with an estimated doubling of incidencc every 20-30 years (Lothian Health 1993, the need for specialist staff for this p u p is unquestionable.

Lesley Metcalf and MV Devlln Diabetes care “the Wiml way” - ensureing continuity of care for patients with diabetes who attend the Wirral Hospital for investigations At the Wirral Hospital the authors have made a difference for thcir patients with diabetes by producing and implementing a reference document of management guidelines for diabetic patients who need investigations, believing that successful management requires clear instructions which are fully understood by all staff.

Patient satisfaction with care received is their next object for consideration.

Patricia Birdsall and June James Ethnic focused diabetes A culture awareness study day organised by North West Anglia Health Care Trust highlighted the important role that an Interpreting Service plays in providing effective communication in diabetes health- care and education. The initial response of clients was one of sus- picion, due mainly to issues of confidentiality, since members of their own community would be used. The team found that reassurance on this matter was paramount and the use of the Interpreting Service started to bridge the gap between the team and the ethnic comrnu- nities. It was obvious that the client group was eager to learn about the treatment of diabetes and the prevention of diabetic compli- cations .

A second talk, this timc to the ladies of thc Islamic community. was held at the local Mosque. Again, the responsc was excellent. A\ a result of these innovations, the full diabetes tcani underwent ;I

process of reflection and decided that a hospital-had Asi;in-letl clinic would be the next step forward. Five months later. following ;I

period of preparation, the first Asian led clinic was held. Thc team evaluated carefully the sessions by providing those attending with self-filling questionnaires, using the Interpreters Service. Lwal press reported the success of the Asian clinics throughout Peterborough.

Government Launches Disability Benefits Forum An initiative which will give disabled people and their organisations a pivotal role in shaping Government policy to meet their needs was launched on 17 June by Harriet Harman, Social Security Secretary.

The terms of reference of the Forum are: to consider possible options for changes in the gateways to benefits for long-term sick and disabled people and carers; and how to ensure that help is directed to those who need it.

Associations included in the Forum are the National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux, RNIB, National Centre for Independent Living, MIND, Carers National Association, SCOPE, RADAR, People First, National Federation of the Blind of the UK, MENCAP, Disability Alliance, RNID, Disablement Income Group, and the British Council of Disabled People.

What a pity the BDA is not represented in this initiative.

Death of Sir John Nabarro This journal is saddened to announce the death of Sir John Nabarro, who did such a lot for people with diabetes during his lifetime . . . .

A formal obituary will appear in the next issue of Practical Diabetes International.

160 Practical Diabeteslnternational Jub/AuguSr 1998 VoL 15 No. 5