Clinicians in Wales are being urged to become Clinical Champions to help improve services in their area to deliver better care for people with diabetes.
The highly successful two-year leadership programme run by Diabetes UK is recruiting a new cohort of clinicians to drive change across Wales, as well as in England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. The voluntary role runs for two years and includes a package of support and training.
Current Clinical Champions include consultants, GPs, nurses, dietitians, podiatrists and senior pharmacists. They are experienced in treating the complex needs of people with diabetes and are significantly improving care for people living with diabetes.
The need for change is underlined by a diabetes crisis in Wales – over 188,000 people have diabetes with a further 70,000 estimated to already be living with Type 2 diabetes who don’t know they have the condition.
Diabetes UK Cymru’s Director Dai Williams said: “Clinicians can see where improvements are needed to diabetes services, but are all too often left frustrated and unable to deliver change. There’s clear evidence investment in better diabetes care is beneficial to people with diabetes and is cost effective. Effective services help people manage their diabetes well, reducing the number of devastating and costly health complications. Our Clinical Champions are part of a network of like-minded clinicians playing a critical role in promoting and delivering innovative and life-changing best practice.”
Scott Cawley, Professional Lead Podiatrist for Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, and Diabetes UK Clinical Champion, (pictured above), believes sharing learning with the other Champions has enabled him to begin transforming footcare.
He said: “Being a Clinical Champion has enabled me to focus on how we can change Diabetic footcare in Cardiff through providing me with a peer group and external support. Through introducing and supporting podiatry colleagues to adapt motivational interviewing and behaviour change techniques, we are working towards encouraging sustainable care and self-management for our patients.”
The Clinical Champions programme is a Diabetes UK project. Novo Nordisk provides financial support.
Adam Burt, Director Market Access and Public Affairs, Novo Nordisk UK, said: “It is wonderful to be working with Diabetes UK on this ambitious initiative aimed at empowering a growing network of Clinical Champions. These are inspiring individuals who wish to become advocates for change and quality improvement in diabetes services across the NHS. In the current environment, this is no easy task and Novo Nordisk is passionate about enabling leaders who wish to drive the quality of care patients living with diabetes need and deserve“.
Find out more about the Clinical Champions programme or download an application pack, The deadline for applications is 5pm Monday, 27 March 2017.
