Heartbeat: Diabetes team scoop top accolade at Quality in Care Awards

January 8, 2020

Judges at the awards praised the team for their innovative approach to redeveloping a treatment protocol for Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA), reducing a lengthy protocol from ten pages down to two and showing how this simple change had brought about a significant improvement in the care of patients with DKA.

Awarding the team, judges said: “Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust have produced a very simple but very impressive project. The step by step protocol allows underlying causes, as well as treatment of DKA, to be identified, which will help practitioners improve care. The project generated compelling positive feedback from users, suggesting that its clinical impact could be significant. Already in routine practice, the sustainability of the programme is clear, with evidence of its adoption in other localities.”

Sharing his thoughts on the award, Consultant Physician Diabetes and Endocrinology, Dr Parijat De said: “I’m proud to see our Trust recognised as innovators at a national level – more so given the hard work and contributions from Junior Doctor, Margaret Adu-Baah and a 4th Year medical student, Nicholas Hewetson.

“Diabetic Ketoacidosis has for a long time been a critical clinical condition that requires quick and effective diagnosis and treatment. Without this, there remains a significant chance of mortality and increased stays in hospital for treatment. We recognised that our colleagues were finding the Joint British Diabetes Society guidelines on DKA too lengthy and complicated and this resulted in poor adherence to the protocol. To tackle this, we developed a significantly shortened document and this simple change over the preceding years has shown clear improvements across the board, from reduced length of stays for patients, better outcomes and satisfied colleagues. Needless to say, this revised protocol is now standard across our workplace.”