Wales Network Appoints New Clinical Lead
Originally published Thursday 8th November 2018
The CYP Wales Diabetes Network has appointed a new Chair to replace Dr Chris Bidder, who has stepped down after three year in the role.
Dr Davida Hawkes is the new chair. Dr Hawkes has worked in the paediatric diabetes team in Aneurin Bevan University Health Board for 13 years, and previously worked in hospitals across South Wales. Dr Hawkes will take on the role of Clinical Lead for the CYP Wales Diabetes Network, in her role as Chair.
Dr Bidder, the outgoing Chair, says: “I’m delighted to hand on the leadership of the Wales Network to Davida.
“As a Network, we have many achievements to be proud of in our first three years. For example, the award-winning SEREN education programme is now used at the point of diagnosis in every health board, with further developments on the way. I am confident that Davida will build on the Network’s success and enable us to achieve even more in the next three years.”
Dr Hawkes expressed her thanks to Dr Bidder, saying, “Chris has been a brilliant inaugural Chair for our Network. I am delighted that he is staying on as the Champion for one of our key work-streams, the development of a National Out of Hours Advice Service.
“Under Chris, the Network has established itself as a means of delivering change and improvement across Wales. We are now entering a significant period, where we need to embed good practice and continue the drive towards better services on a national level.
“Our Network will enable all paediatric diabetes teams in Wales to work together at a strategic-level to fully implement the vision of the Welsh Government’s Diabetes Delivery Plan with regard to care for children and young people across Wales. We want to reduce variation in service delivery and outcomes, which we will achieve through our continued commitment to the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit and the Peer Review Quality Assurance programme.
“We have plans to work with the education sector to ensure children and young people with diabetes receive the best possible care in schools. We want to work closely with parents to identify how best to achieve tailored care in school settings. As a Network, we also want to examine ways to improve engagement between children and young people, and their families, and clinical teams so that children and young people receive the support they need in and alongside clinics.”
Dr Hawkes will be supported in her role as Chair by a new Network vice-chair Dr Ambika Shetty from Cardiff & Vale University Health Board. Dr Shetty will replace Dr Justin Warner, who has been the Vice-Chair of the CYP Wales Diabetes Network since its inception. “Justin has been a great support to me in my time as Chair,” said Dr Bidder. “I would like to thank him on behalf of our entire Network for his leadership and vision in his role as Vice-Chair.”
The Children and Young People’s Wales Diabetes Network was established in 2015 as part of the Welsh Government’s strategy for improving services and outcomes for people with diabetes. The Network unites all the paediatric diabetes teams in Wales with a regular programme of meetings, and pan-Wales initiatives.