Winner

Service innovation to help people live well with diabetes

by Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)

Diabetes is one of the leading causes of certifiable sight loss amongst the working age population in the UK. Improving self-management of diabetes and uptake of Diabetic Retinopathy Screening (DRS), eye examinations and attendance at Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) Outpatients clinics is essential to prevent complications such as sight loss. This project, funded by RNIB and the Department of Health, promoted self-management and engagement of friends, family and the wider community to help people live well with diabetes. Low cost interventions included the DRS Service sending a text appointment reminder and a ‘ring and remind’ service in DR Outpatient clinics. Attendance at DRS increased overall by 10%, with those for patients receiving the full suite of interventions up by 15%.

Judges comment:

“The judges really liked this initiative because this isn’t a ‘sexy’ area, but such an important one in diabetes and great to be brought to the forefront again. Judges were impressed with the independent evaluation and liked that they have reached out to the wider community & encouraged people to be more involved in their care. Impressed also that GPs, nurses & opticians worked together in a systematic and joined up way. This project has the biggest potential impact on patients.”

Highly commended

Provision of structured and personalised diabetes information improves patient activation – The WICKED Project

by The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust

WICKED (Wolverhampton Interface Care, Knowledge Empowered Diabetes) uses personalised diabetes information to improve self-care. The initiative began by recruiting all local people with diabetes and randomising them into two groups: the active group was mailed a structured personalised report containing information on all 9 of their diabetes care processes while the control group received standard care. Differences in their Failed Process Score were compared at three months, where the change was significantly better in those mailed.  Patients found this report useful (89%), a source of knowledge (78%) and confidence (74%) and it helped them in understanding their diabetes (78%). Non-responders were at significantly higher risk of developing micro and macro vascular complications.

Judges comment:

“This project really puts patients at the heart of it. It highlights the importance of activation and empowerment in the patient. They are establishing themselves in the diabetes community by winning awards, so it should be sustainable and replicable. The judges particularly liked the comment “I said to myself about time…” in the patient statement as it showed proof of patient motivation.“