GPs in the Lewes and the Havens area are funding a specialist community dietitian for two years to assess the effectiveness of providing a local dietetic service for patients with type 2 diabetes and those with a high risk of developing it.
Working in partnership with local diabetes nurses and doctors, the dietitian aims to empower patients to improve their health while working as part of a team to deliver high quality care closer to patients’ homes.
The GPs have invested £78,000 in the community diabetic dietetic service (see Note to Editors).
“Dietetic support for these patients has been shown to not only save money but also to improve health and give the patient the crucial confidence to continue to make changes to maintain these improvements long-term,” said Emma Smith, Diabetes and Weight Management Dietitian.
Dr Chris Gurtler, who chairs the Lewes-Havens Clinical Commissioning Group said: “The local Community Diabetes Dietetic Service also includes initiatives to raise awareness of diabetes, as well as interventions to prevent and treat the disease. Services provided within the GP practices include one-to-one consultations in clinics, group sessions for people newly diagnosed with diabetes and sessions to help support patients motivated to manage their weight in the long-term.”
He added: “There will also be education and training sessions to practice staff to increase their dietary knowledge and confidence with this patient group, and therefore ensure continuity of care.”
Referral to the Community Diabetes Dietetic Service is via written request by a GP in The Havens, Lewes and Newick localities for patients with a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes or those at significant risk of developing it.
Patients who would like more information about the service should contact their GP. The Diabetes Dietitian works with the following practices: School Hill Medical Practice (Lewes), St Andrews Surgery (Lewes), River Lodge Surgery (Lewes), Anchor Field Surgery (Ringmer), Quayside Medical Practice (Newhaven), Chapel Street Surgery (Newhaven), Meridian Practice (Peacehaven), Rowe Avenue Surgery (Peacehaven), Central Surgery (Peacehaven), Fox Hill Medical Centre (Peacehaven), Newick Medical Centre and South Chailey Surgery.
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Note to Editors:
Treating the 2.6 million people currently diagnosed with diabetes costs the NHS an estimated £9 billion a year, which is approximately 10% of its budget. Most health experts agree that the UK is facing a huge increase in the number of people with diabetes and that by 2025 an estimated 4 million people will have the condition. Most of these cases will be type 2 diabetes, because of our ageing population and rapidly rising numbers of overweight and obese people.
Issued by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, website: www.esht.nhs.uk
NHS Sussex, website: www.esdw.nhs.uk
Contact:
Suzanne Gooch, Communications Manager,
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust.
Tel: (01424) 735676, email: suzanne.gooch@esht.nhs.uk
Jamie Whitburn, Communications Manager, NHS Sussex
Tel: (01273) 403595, email: jamie.whitburn@esdwpct.nhs.uk
