2012 Diabetes Voices Inspire award winners

Diabetes UK launched their brand new Inspire Award scheme this year. Read on to find out about the 2012 Diabetes Voices award winners.

Henry Bartlett – South West

Henry has been volunteering with Diabetes UK for many years and has been a Diabetes Voice since 2011. He builds a good working rapport with healthcare professionals and is great at representing the views of both patients and Diabetes UK to ensure improvements are made. One example is when he used his influence to ensure a diabetes specialist nurse was reappointed at a local surgery. His engagement with the NHS and involvement with the West Dorset voluntary group has enabled him to organise education days for people living with diabetes. Four have been held in the last 24 months, reaching more than 100 people.

Sheila Burston – London

Sheila makes an invaluable contribution to the Diabetes Voices work and her local Diabetes UK Voluntary Group in Bexley. She is passionate about raising awareness of diabetes and ensuring people receive the best possible care. Care of people with diabetes in Bexley has certainly improved because of Sheila’s efforts pushing for better services for those living with diabetes on the Diabetes Network in Bexley. The local Primary Care Trust has now become one of only two in London to be given a green rating in the 2009/10 National Diabetes Audit.

Christine Chaplin – Eastern

Christine is a Service Champion on the Diabetes Network and Steering Group. In 2012 alone she offered “invaluable” support by volunteering for 170 hours, tirelessly campaigning to improve healthcare provision in her region. She has worked with and influenced GPs, pharmacies, students, politicians and Primary Care Trusts to prompt improvements in service delivery. One notable achievement is her instrumental role improving links with the PCT’s service user forum. A healthcare professional said, “Chris’s contribution has meant that there is more presence for diabetes as an issue in discussions than there was before”.

Chris Claridge – Scotland

Chris gives a huge amount of time to improve diabetes care in Scotland. As a patient rep on the Diabetes Action Group and the Diabetes Care Focus Group, he influences lead clinicians to improve diabetes services and has recently forced the Highland NHS to resurrect the Clinical Managed Network. Having successfully persuaded a hospital to retain blood testing services within their clinic rather than making patients take blood tests in local GP surgeries. Chris also helped a local taxi driver with diabetes, who had had his licence revoked. Chris had him reinstated by highlighting that Highland Council regulations were out of date.

Christine Edwards – South East

Christine is an active lobbyist, working with local MPs and healthcare providers to ensure acceptable standards in diabetes services. She has set up patient groups, attended two Question Time events and the Diabetes UK Big Lobby. She sits on many committees and boards as a patient rep and is a member of the National Diabetes Audit Partnership Board. As Chair of the Portsmouth voluntary group she informs healthcare providers of services outside of the NHS for people with diabetes. She also works hard building links with BAME communities, raising awareness of diabetes and telling people about the care they should receive.

Peter Green – Midlands

Peter’s passion for improving care for people with diabetes is best described in his own words, “There is much to do and very few people prepared to support their local efforts. We need to encourage more diabetes patients to help promote a public awareness of the condition. Too many people think it will go away and it doesn’t matter – it does!” Peter has been involved with the NHS since 1954. As a lay advisor with the Nottinghamshire Primary Care Trust he provides a patient and public voice on committees including clinical care and pathways, a diabetes retinopathy service review panel and National Collaborative seminars.

Teresa McDonnell – Northern Ireland

Teresa became a member of Diabetes UK in June 2009, after her son Rhys was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In 2012 she joined the Diabetes Voices network, bringing skills that led to fantastic results. For example, when presenting to the Assembly Education Committee, Teresa told the story of when Rhys asked her husband, ’will I always be different now Dad?’. The Assembly was astounded that families still had experiences like this. Teresa encouraged other parents to press their assembly members for action and since then, the Northern Ireland government has committed to improve care for people with diabetes.

Ann Middleton – North West

For many years, Ann has taken a keen interest in the political agenda, in particular health and social care policies, issues and developments. As a Diabetes Voice, she has fearlessly tackled issues with people in high places, always pushing the diabetes agenda. She often visits Westminster too. On one recent occasion she “collared” Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham and other parliamentarians to discuss Diabetes UK’s mission. She was also approached by Barbara Young for her opinions on the Any Other Provider initiative for podiatry services in Salford and represented Diabetes UK at the Labour Party conference.

Terry Nougher-Fuller – Northern & Yorkshire

Terry represents Diabetes UK as Service Champion for the Rotherham area, canvassing other local people with diabetes to ensure services are responsive to local peoples’ needs. His passion and professionalism have helped make the case for user involvement at the Rotherham Primary Care Trust  while his hard work clarifying problems and suggesting solutions for the Eye Screening Committee has seen uptake rates increase from 20% to 69%. Terry’s efforts have raised the profile of diabetes in the area and recently he was asked to give an address in a service at Rotherham Minster on World Diabetes Day.

Bob Roberts – Wales

Bob is a long-time supporter of Diabetes UK Cymru and sits on its Wales Advisory Council, using the role to lobby Assembly Members of the Welsh Government. He also works closely with Hywel Dda Health Board where he chairs the Patient Reference Group, leading it to become the model for the rest of Wales. 30 people regularly attend the group and Bob ensures important healthcare professionals are present – including the Diabetes Lead for the Health Board and three Diabetes Specialist Nurses. This allows attendees to talk to the people responsible for their care and has directly influenced improvements in services