Diabetes Care

Introduction

Sound diabetes care revolves around a multidisciplinary approach bringing together the different skills of the Consultant and General Practitioner, the Practice Nurse, the Diabetes Nurse Specialist, the Dietitian, the Chiropodist and, on occasion, the Clinical Psychologist to provide the medical care, education and understanding required to enable the person with diabetes to successfully manage their own condition in the knowledge that the appropriate health care professional is available should they need advice.

The role of a Diabetes Centre is to provide a focus for all the relevant day to day management and education to be carried out in surroundings which are inviting and comfortable. Education for those with diabetes and their families and friends is a priority but other health care professionals also need educating about how to manage diabetes within their own sphere of work, for example on a surgical ward or in a residential home. Employers, teachers and the general public at large need a basic understanding about living with diabetes, the signs and symptoms of the onset of diabetes and how to manage an episode of hypoglycaemia and, importantly, to eliminate discrimination.

Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby

The Diabetes Centre at Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital is located to the side of the outpatient department with access through the clinic area and an external entrance. The Centre consists of a waiting and reception area which has a coffee machine for visitors,  disabled toilet facilities,  2 private interview rooms, a purpose built chiropody room, a small beverage kitchen, office space for the Diabetes Nurse Specialists and Specialist Dietitian, storage space for equipment and educational material and an education room which can be divided into two small rooms. This format is typical of most purpose-built Diabetes Centres in this country.

Daily activity within the Centre includes outpatient sessions held by the Dietitian, the Diabetes Nurses and the Chiropodist which are on an appointment basis. Telephone contacts are backed up with answerphones. Drop-in visits do occur and are dealt with accordingly or an alternative appointment made, as it cannot be guaranteed that a member of staff will be available.

The Paediatric Diabetes Clinics and the Adolescent Clinic are held in the Diabetes Centre as these require only 2 interview rooms. The Adult Diabetes clinics deal with much larger numbers of patients requiring at least 5 interview rooms, and therefore continues to be located in the main outpatient department. Voluntary services provide reception cover each morning from 9 am to 1 pm. A comprehensive education program has been developed for the year including study days and courses for health care professionals in primary and secondary care, specific sessions for specialist groups of patients and open days for health care staff and the general public. Details of these sessions are publicised in the usual manner.

Scunthorpe General Hospital

The Diabetes Centre is situated next to the car park at the main entrance - it is elevated on a small slope visible from the car park.

The Diabetes/Endocrinology Centre is a separate building and is linked to the main Hospital by a covered out door walkway. The Centre has a reception area and waiting room which has a cold drinks machine and cold water fountain. Disabled toilets are situated in the reception area.

The Diabetes Centre is home to the Diabetes/Endocrinology Consultants, their secretarial teams, the podiatrists, dieticians and diabetes specialist nurses. Daily activity within the Centre includes out patient sessions held by each member of the team - all sessions are appointment based.

A phlebotomy service is based in the Centre when the Consultant Diabetes clinics are being held.

Telephone contacts are backed up with an answer phone for each discipline.

Drop in visits do occur and are dealt with accordingly or appointments made as it cannot be guaranteed that the relevant staff member will be available.