WINNER
The DESMOND Programme and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
By Leicester Diabetes Centre
With face-to-face patient diabetes education on hold during the COVID-19 pandemic, the
Diabetes Education and Self Management for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed (DESMOND) team
at Leicester Diabetes Centre took various actions. New materials were added to MyDESMOND
relating to COVID-19 and diabetes, resilience and emotional wellbeing, ensuring fair access
for all. Virtual Delivery Packages were set up for all DESMOND modules. Guidance for
educators was written and made available to all DESMOND teams. The DESMOND Academy was
launched with virtual workshop support for existing educators, new educator training was
redesigned, and Quality Assurance assessment methods were refi ned for virtual delivery.
Judges' comments:
"This highly professional team have submitted a well-crafted and impressive entry. It was clear they helped other services that were in trouble during the pandemic, giving a good example of scalability. The team listened to concerns around access and were responsive to feedback on their virtual and flexible platform. The judges were also impressed with how culturally aware the programmes were, developing them in different languages. They went beyond just translating the programme from face-to-fact to virtual. Outstanding!"
WINNER
Providing structured education programmes virtually during COVID-19 pandemic
By York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Good2Go is a structured education course for people with Type 2 diabetes. It has been
running in person since 2010. The aspiration was to offer Good2Go in different formats, to
make it more accessible, as working age participants represented a large proportion of
non-attendees. The pandemic pushed the move to a virtual platform. However, the goal was
to offer a portfolio of structured education options for different needs and preferences. Two
solutions are now provided: a virtual webinar, delivered daytime or evening, or a workbook
with one-to-one Q&A for those without internet access. Video clips are also available.
Judges' comments:
"The York and Scarborough team’s entry was a comprehensive and thoughtful review of how to deliver education and meet varying patient needs. The dietician support used was really beneficial and the judges also liked that sessions were offered outside of normal hours, which demonstrated good flexibility. The project also acknowledged that some people may struggle with technology and offered alternative access for these individuals. The entry has distinct scope for dissemination, is clearly sustainable and beautifully presented. "
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Gloucestershire community diabetes education team
By Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust
The Diabetes Education Service was suspended in March 2020 to support the
COVID-19 response, so the team proactively created a new online programme, using
MS Teams, to provide diabetes education. The six-part, online course runs across
multiple days/times of the week, including morning, afternoon and evening, to
ensure flexibility for users. It covers diabetes management, the importance of
looking after mental health and wellbeing, understanding goal setting to encourage
motivation in challenging times and the importance of staying physically active
during lockdown. The information provided accounts for psychological, physical and
learning difficulties, cultural differences and other long-term health conditions.
Judges' comments:
"This strong entry from Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust achieved a lot from a low starting point, in a challenging environment. The judges were very impressed with the inclusion of feedback from stakeholders in how they developed the project and it was very inclusive. A good example of innovation beyond just moving online and making education available to as wide an audience as possible. It has clear plans for sustainability and has already begun wider dissemination. A brilliant job. "
FINALIST
Remote education during the pandemic - the roll out of a new bolus calculator app
By Paediatric Diabetes Team, Royal United Hospital Bath NHS Trust
Three challenges had to be overcome: the pandemic necessitated changes to face-to-face and
group education; the Expert meter, popular for accurate bolus calculations, was being phased
out; and more Libre users wanted to use a scanned value in a bolus calculator. MyLife was
identified as the most suitable bolus calculator app. The diabetes team, patients and families
were educated in set-up via new training resources. IT challenges and poverty were overcome
to ensure accessibility. Then ward staff were trained, to enable the initiation of MyLife at
diagnosis. Learnings and training resources were shared with South West CYP Diabetes Network.
Judges' comments:
"This was a moving entry that showcased an honest and candid account of parent experiences. There were clear and significant attempts at inclusivity, with a good explanation of how the team went about achieving this. The overall approach was impressive, particularly taking into account that some people may not have access to technology. The judges were also impressed with how the team challenged schools’ phone policy."
FINALIST
Cooking in a virtual world: How Cook and Eat adapted during the COVID-19 pandemic
By Royal Devon & Exeter Foundation NHS Trust
Cook and Eat is an established level 3 carbohydrate education programme for children and
young people (CYP) at Exeter Children and Young Person’s Diabetes Service. It changed
from an annual face-to-face session (for under-16s) to virtual sessions (offered to all) during
COVID-19. The CYP cook a recipe at home with a parent or carer. Each recipe is designed to be
easy to follow and uses inexpensive and accessible ingredients. The carbohydrate counting
process is explained and the CYP are encouraged to do it independently. The main aim is to
create a fun, engaging and collaborative environment for supporting carbohydrate counting.
Judges' comments:
"“Cooking in a virtual world” is a great initiative that made for a different and enjoyable read. It was an innovative project that was fun and practical, offering mental health and emotional support, which challenged the situation during the COVID-19 isolation. The judges liked that it offered the opportunity for children to connect with each in a social and fun environment. The financial diversity was also excellent. "