The Link: Vol 11 No 4

Royal College of Nursing paediatric and adolescent diabetes special interest group
The group would like to highlight the launch of a DoH report Making Every Young Person with Diabetes Matter, which was launched on Thursday 5th April (available at: http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_073674 [accessed 24.04.07]). Members of the Paediatric and Adolescent Diabetes Special Interest Group were part of the working group that was set up in 2005 to examine the current challenges involving young people with diabetes and seek solutions to them. The report sets out the findings from the working group.

The report provides guidance and makes recommendations in a number of areas, including commissioning, organisation of care, provision of services and workforce matters. This report is a must-read for all diabetes service providers  who are involved in providing diabetes care for children, young people and their families.

To obtain copies of the report please email: [email protected].

Marie Marshall, Publicity Officer

Royal College of Nursing diabetes forum
Preparations are well under way for the annual conference for 2007. The title is Competent to Care? and this year the conference runs over two separate days. The first day (June 16th) will focus on management of acute complications and the second day (October 6th) will look at the management of chronic complications. Both days are suitable for staff working with inpatients, in the community or in primary care. The days will be a mixture of talks and workshops. Both days will be held at the RCN headquarters in London. Further details can be obtained by emailing [email protected] or by telephone 020 7647 3585.

New members
The RCN Diabetes Forum steering committee met in January and welcomed two new members – Keith Booles and Margaret Stubbs – to join Mags Bannister, Jill Hill and Gayle Richards. Other new members will also be joining soon and this will give the committee representation from other areas of the UK outside of England. It will also ensure the committee includes people from all relevant areas, such as acute-based DSNs; community DSNs; community nurses; practice nurses; and nurse educators. This will ensure that the committee is well-placed to represent diabetes nursing in all its manifestations. It is very encouraging to see that nurses are enthusiastic about joining the committee.

Gayle Richards, Committee Member