Education case study

Background

In 2015, Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust were asked to start delivering structured Type 2 diabetes patient education. A decision was made to move to offering DESMOND, with delivery initially commencing across mid-Nottinghamshire. The service then expanded across south-Nottinghamshire in 2016 to cover the entirety of the county, and the team have gone from strength-to-strength.

This well established DESMOND team forms part of the wider Nutrition & Dietetic department. The core team consists of diabetes educators & lay educators alongside clerical assistants. However, dietitians across the department also deliver the DESMOND courses within their role. Diabetes educators & co-ordinators, Sarah Kostewicz & Hannah Walters have been instrumental in both promoting and developing the service but the dedication, passion and enthusiasm from the entire team is truly key to their success. The team provide services across Nottinghamshire County; Mansfield & Ashfield, Newark & Sherwood, Rushcliffe, Broxtowe & Gedling.

Data presented by Hannah and Sarah at the Diabetes UK 2019 Conference, demonstrated significant improvements in HbA1c outcomes for those individuals living with Type 2 diabetes who attended a DESMOND course across Nottinghamshire County.

This case story shares the story of the Nottinghamshire Healthcare DESMOND team and how their DESMOND service have established themselves over the years and their strategy for embedding and delivering diabetes patient education during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Building the DESMOND Nottinghamshire brand

Hannah explained the importance of establishing their DESMOND service right from the offset as well as building key relationships. Ensuring the service remains at the centre of diabetes care across Nottinghamshire County has been paramount. The team have held a presence at protected learning time events, diabetes awareness events, diabetes forums, patient participant groups, diabetes support groups and many more.  Furthermore, communication with GP surgeries is key and relevant service information has been communicated via bulletins, newsletters and the team’s social media pages.

Anna Clark, Head of Service, commented on the process of integrating the new offer of education:

“We faced significant challenges when we had to come in and replace existing services that were familiar and valued by primary care. The change in service provision took time to embed as the DESMOND programme was very different to the previous offer of education delivered by specialist care. Therefore, it took a lot of networking, promotion, plus patient and colleague positive feedback for DESMOND to be accepted as an alternative offer.”

The Nottinghamshire team invest significant time into service development. Self-referral has been made available across the county, which has increased referrals into the service and has allowed the team to focus promotional efforts directly at individuals living with Type 2 diabetes. Furthermore, SystmOne e-referral has been launched, allowing healthcare professionals to refer with the click of a button and streamlining the process.

A significant number of displays have been established at GP Surgeries, Pharmacies, retinal screening locations, supermarkets & health and social care centres etc. Educators have attended diabetes support groups, carers groups and local patient events to promote the service and ensure inclusivity. Resources have been developed and include a self-referral leaflet, service promotion poster, further support poster, staff shadowing poster and infographic.

The Nottinghamshire DESMOND team’s Facebook & Twitter pages are crucial in promoting the service further, both to individuals living with Type 2 diabetes and healthcare professionals. Social media posts and activities have been linked with national and international diabetes events, such as World Diabetes Day in November and Diabetes Week.

For more information regarding DESMOND please contact: