March 2022 Bulletin
22/03/2022
Welcome to the March 2022 E-bulletin for the Thames Valley Children and Young People with Diabetes Network. This is my first news bulletin since joining the Network at the end of January and so I wanted to start by introducing myself! My name is Myfanwy (Myfi for short) and prior to joining you in Thames Valley I had been the Senior Commissioner for Children’s services in Wiltshire for six years. Before that, I had done project and operational management in the Women’s & Children’s division at Addenbrookes Hospital, so I’ve seen children’s services from a commissioning and acute hospital perspective, which I hope will be helpful. I really look forward to meeting more of you as I settle into the role, and to finding out how I can best support you all as a Network going forwards.
You may already be aware that Fiona Regan informed the Network at our last meeting in February that she has accepted a substantive position at the Evalina Trust and will sadly be leaving Wexham Park Hospital, and the Thames Valley Network. I have only worked with Fiona for a short time, but she has made a significant contribution as Chair of the Thames Valley Network and will be sadly missed. Luckily for Thames Valley, arrangements were already in place for our Vice Chair, Anne-Marie Frohock, to take over the position of Chair from May 2022 and so leadership of the Network will continue without any gaps.
I hope that you enjoy looking through this bulletin. I am keen that this is a helpful tool that keeps you up to date with news from across the Network and nationally, and I would encourage people to forward any items onto me in the future that they feel Thames Valley colleagues would benefit from. If you have feedback, or suggestions about how communication could be improved across the Network I would welcome your views.
Best wishes
Myfi Champness
1. Save the date
Thames Valley Network meetings
23rd March 9-10AM- TV Lead Nurses Meeting VIRTUAL
5th April 9-5PM – TV and Wessex Network Meeting, Chilworth Manor Hotel, Southampton
9th June 9-10.30AM – TV Dietitians Meeting VIRTUAL
14th July 2-5PM – Thames Valley Network Meeting, Holiday Inn, High Wycombe
Nov 2022 – TV and Wessex Network Meeting (TBC, likely Holiday Inn, High Wycombe)
2. Conferences Dates 2022/23
Diabetes UK Professional Conference
28 March – 1 April, Queen Elizabeth II Centre, London
Hybrid event with in interactive virtual events, live streamed sessions and practical masterclasses for those attending in person. Book here
6 May, Aston University Conference Birmingham
Book tickets here
15 – 17 September, Rome, Italy
Register your interest here. Abstract deadline 19 April
13 – 16 October, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Registration to open Spring 2022
2-4 November 22, Belfast
Registration for this event is not yet open
Diabetes professional Care Conference
16 & 17 November, Olympia, London
Register your interest here
3. Staff Education
Diabetes UK
The Diabetes UK website have an excellent summary of all available postgraduate courses.
Type 2 Diabetes resources
NPDA have published a report summarising an engagement exercise carried out with CYP with Type 2 diabetes ‘Living with Type 2 Diabetes: ideas from children & young people on staying healthy, happy and well’. This project was inspired and supported by the National Children and Young People’s Diabetes Network’s working group on Type 2 diabetes, who had identified a gap in the literature around children and young people’s thoughts, feelings, and understanding of their condition and care.
Some new resources supporting the management of Type 2 diabetes have been added to the RCPCH website page focussing on the Type 2 spotlight report. Please also refer to the new guide ‘A Practical Approach to Management of Type 2 diabetes in Children and Young People (CYP) under 18 years’ developed by the National Network and ACDC to support improvement in the outcomes of this cohort identified within the spotlight report.
4. Staff Information and Opportunities
Regional Nurse Lead for CYP with Diabetes
NHS England & NHS Improvement (NHSEI) South East are seeking expressions of interest for an 8a regional Nursing Lead role for CYP with Diabetes, working 1 day a week across the South East region. If you are interested, I can provide you with a copy of the role description from NHSEI, or you can contact natalie.hughes17@nhs.net NHSEI Transformation Lead to discuss the role.
Regional NHSEI Diabetes workstream
Thames Valley and Wessex Networks had a very helpful meeting with the NHSEI South East CYP Transformation team recently, where we gained some insight into the South East regional plans for CYP transformation and how Networks will align with these. There is to be a Diabetes Steering Group covering the South East region, and we were reassured to hear that each Network with units sitting in the region will be invited to become a member of that steering group so that there is a continuing relationship between CYP Diabetes Networks and the South East NHSE region. Those of you attending the Network Meeting in April will have the opportunity to hear more about this from Natalie Hughes, NHSEI South East CYP Transformation Lead.
Transition EOI
As you may be aware, CYP transition is one of the key areas of focus for transformation nationally in the NHS. We have been made aware that funding is to be made available to a number of transformation pilot sites, with a specific focus on transition for young people with diabetes. The plan is for there to be at least one site per region to be allocated funding, and we are expecting some communication in April seeking expressions of interest. I will circulate information as soon as I have it, however if you know that this is something your Trust is likely to be interested in it would be helpful if you could let me know.
NPDA data deadline
The final date for data submission to the NPDA is 27 May 2022. Further information can be found here. The 20/21 National Annual Report is currently with NHSE and NHS Wales for review, with expected release in April.
Ukraine Appeal
Diabetes UK have provided advice for colleagues, patients and families who are keen to understand how they can support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine, in particular for those who have diabetes. They have encouraged the support of established agencies who are experienced in this work and are already part of the aid effort, including:
- Direct Relief – which, in partnership with IDF, has already successfully transported diabetes supplies to healthcare providers in Ukraine
- The Spare a Rose for Ukraine appeal, which runs throughout March and will be directing funds to Insulin for Life https://sparearose.org/ https://www.insulinforlife.org/
- The Red Cross https://www.redcross.org.uk/
DUK are aware of efforts taking place in the UK to collect and ship supplies to Ukraine, but would not endorse people sending their own prescribed items overseas through these sorts of schemes. These items are necessary for individuals’ own healthcare, and there is a risk that, outside of a coordinated aid effort, these schemes will struggle to successfully get resources where they need to be.
Digibete update
DigiBete will soon be rolling out some new developments to the App and clinic portal: look out for their newsletter to find out more. They will also be offering patient education & awareness sessions to help families become familiar with the App, as well as refresher training for staff to keep you up to date and getting the best use of the App and clinic portal.
If you have any questions, queries or feedback for the DigiBete team you can always drop them an email to: app@digibete.org
Did you also know that DigiBete can set up new clinic codes for any Young Adult clinics in the region too, so that when young people transfer across to their new team they can still access the App and resources and have immediate access to the young adult team contacts too (19-25yrs).
The young adults would just log out of the App and log back in with the Young Adult clinic code and they will keep all their MyT1D information they have updated in the App and still be able to access the DigiBete resources on their phones.
If you would like to put your young adult colleagues in touch with DigiBete they would be happy to get them set up and offer them some training too.
Consultation on future network meetings
At our next Network meeting in April we will be seeking the views of colleagues on how they would like to see Network meetings running the in the future, and educational topics that they would like to see covered. We are keen to understand views across the network on virtual or ‘in person’ events, and ask that if you are going to be attending the network meeting on the 5th April that you seek the opinions of the wider MDT so that you can bring a team perspective on this to the meeting.
5. CYP, Parents and Carers Information and Events
Network Parents Group on Facebook
The Thames Valley and Wessex Paediatric Diabetes Network Parents Group is a private group available for parents of CYP with Diabetes in the Network.
Type 2 diabetes
An animation summarising the findings of the Type 2 spotlight report has been developed for families and CYP with Type 2 diabetes.
Share your story and influence diabetes services
The Children and Young Peoples Diabetes Network is using a story collector called SenseMaker for people with diabetes and their families to explain what life is really like with Type 1 diabetes.
What story would you tell to healthcare professionals about your journey through life with Type 1 diabetes?
In the SenseMaker, you can write about the things you have learned on your journey, and the people who you have met along the way. You can mention things that helped, and things that didn’t. There are some questions that will help you say what matters most to you.
Tell your story using one of the links below – remember to click on the one that applies to you!
Thank you for taking the time to read through this bulletin. Please do let me know if you have news items that you would like to share across the Network for future editions.
Best wishes
Myfi