Three initiatives that have been demonstrated to improve outcomes and reduce NHS costs in people with diabetes have been awarded the NHS Innovation Challenge award.
The £200,000 prize fund, sponsored by Janssen, was split between two challenges. Challenge 1 looked for ventures that could demonstrate improved outcomes and enhanced quality of life for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes through the implementation of integrated care services, and Challenge 2 sought innovative solutions to help improve diabetes outcomes amongst black and minority ethnic communities, in whom the prevalence of type 2 diabetes is up to six times greater compared with the UK’s white population. In light of the high quality of the entries, the judging panel decided to nominate two winners for Challenge 1, so in all, three teams will now benefit from the financial reward, as well as a mentoring programme with Janssen.
King’s College Hospital received £50,000 to support their “3 Dimensions of Care for Diabetes” (3DFD) programme for type 1 diabetes, which bolstered he skill-set of the existing multi-disciplinary team with a psychiatrist, community support workers and trained volunteers. The initiative resulted in greater patient engagement and a 45% fall in the number of sufferers resorting to unscheduled emergency care, which not only improved patient outcomes but also made a saving of £850 per patient per year.
Hillingdon Hospital were also awarded £50,000 for taking their type 1 diabetes service to the schools of the children and young people most affected. A first for the UK, the outreach team is working with six local schools to run the clinics and has recorded a 98% attendance rate. Over the next few months, the team will look to extend the scheme to community centres, youth clubs and general practices, in addition to expanding the scope beyond diabetes.
The £100,000 prize for Challenge 2 was awarded to George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust and Apnee Seehat for their South Asian Specialist Intervention (SASI) pilot, which provided culturally trained diabetes specialists, via telephone consultations and outpatient clinics, for patients at high risk of type 2 diabetes and those with poorly managed diabetes symptoms. The SASI assessments, screening and follow-up care has been shown to cost half that of a hospital appointment.
More details of the awards can be found here.
