Lead Diabetes Nurse, University Hospitals Plymouth
As one of our Clinical Champions, Peter Kelly aims to improve care for people living with diabetes admitted into hospital with severe hypoglycaemia. Peter will be working to improve awareness and knowledge of hypoglycaemia in healthcare professionals within his trust, as well as improving timely access to specialist support.
In 2018, there were over 400 attendances for severe hypoglycaemia in Peter's trust. However, less than 30% of those were referred to primary care and only 25% were admitted to hospital. Of those referred or admitted, only a very small percentage were reviewed by his service. Yet within the practice Peter has seen devastating physical and emotional impact on an individual that severe hypoglycaemia brings.
Background
Peter qualified from Exeter University as a registered nurse in 1997 and began work on the Medical Assessment Unit at Derriford Hospital. Following two years as an operational support manage Peter moved to work on the diabetes and endocrinology ward and a Junior Charge Nurse and then Ward Manager.
Next Peter moved to become Ward Manager on a newly created medical/HCE ward prior to taking on the role of Diabetes Specialist Nurse in late 2008. Initially Peter worked as part of the inpatient DSN team before moving into a clinic-based setting working in a variety of disciplines including Teaching Type 2 education, Diabetes Erectile Dysfunction clinic, managing Type 2 patients in outpatient setting.
Peter currently has responsibility for structured Type 1 diabetes, young adult service and CSII therapy. In 2017 Peter’s role extended to support GP Practices in the North West of Plymouth. Finally, in 2018 Peter took on the role of Lead Diabetes Nurse for Plymouth and West Devon.
