Summary
The Health Innovation Network (HIN) is the Academic Health Science
Network for South London. Established across 10 multidisciplinary
acute diabetes teams and with three industry partners, the Diabetes
Improvement Collaborative had the aim of increasing the uptake
of insulin pump therapy for adults with type 1 diabetes. Research cited by NICE stated that 15-20% of
people with type 1 could benefit from pump therapy, however a local South London audit undertaken by
the Health Innovation Network (HIN) in 2014 revealed that in South London this figure was between 3-15%
depending on borough and the average was 8.8%. Results have shown that since the project started in
June 2014 there has been an increase of over 370 people accessing insulin pump therapy from sites in
South London, equating to a rise from 8.8% to 11.9% of the South London adult type 1 population.
Challenge
Type 1 diabetes affects more than 370,000 adults in the UK. People with the condition are wholly reliant on insulin
delivered through multiple daily injections or an insulin pump. Evidence indicates that between 15-20% of adults
with type 1 diabetes would benefit from this technology and in comparable countries outside the UK the uptake
figure is between 20% and 40%. However in June 2014 data supplied to the HIN from South London service
providers indicated that the uptake of this technology in South London was between 3-15% depending on borough.
Barriers to insulin pump therapy included lack of capacity within services - including adequately trained staff – and
lack of access to type 1 NICE-approved structured education (usually a pre-requisite for starting pump therapy).
Objectives
Increasing insulin pump uptake to at least 15% of the type 1 population in South London by 2018. To create an
effective and sustainable network of providers, to identify and develop opportunities for collaboration across
the network. To engage local teams in service improvement activities, by providing training and skills in relevant
techniques, and to develop an effective collaboration between the NHS and industry to deliver the above aims.
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