Heartbeat: Diabetes team scoop national award for unique approach in treating diabetes

August 21, 2018

Our diabetes team have scooped a top award for improving patient care

The DiCE (diabetes in community extension) project at our organisation received a top accolade at the Royal College of Physicians’ Excellence in Patient Care Awards.

Judges praised the team for their innovative approach in delivering the initiative, which sees the team working closely with GP practices to provide patient care closer to their home, as well as supporting the doctors to enhance their knowledge and skills.

Dr Parijat De, Consultant Physician and Clinical Lead for Diabetes, explained: “We deliver this project with strong support from Sandwell and West Birmingham Clinical Commissioning Group (SWB CCG).

“This model involves GPs identifying challenging cases where support from the diabetes specialists is needed. The diabetes team will then provide advice and management plans to patients at the surgery.

“The consultation sessions have been carried out in many forms, such as virtual clinics, joint consultation or communication through emails and over the telephone. The team was commissioned by the CCG to deliver the project to all 111 practices in Sandwell and West Birmingham in 2014.

“We have been leading an integrated community diabetes model for a while now. It is wonderful to note that we have been acknowledged yet again nationally for our DiCE model.”

There are more than 5,000 patients who have benefited from this model and 90 per cent of type 2 diabetes patients now receive care within the community. Before the DiCE model was launched, more than 50 percent of complex type 2 diabetes patients were referred to hospital and seen by consultants every three to six months.

Following the success of the model, only 10 per cent of complex diabetes patients now need to be seen at the hospital.

Dr Vijay Bathla, who is a GP at Soho Road Health Centre, said: “Since receiving the support from the DiCE team, I feel much more confident when treating high risk patients in my clinic. In addition, when the consultants are present in the clinic, it really helps to improve the communication we have with our patients around the condition, giving them a better understanding of how to self-manage their diabetes.”