WINNER
Wrexham Young Adult Diabetes Service – Getting Our Heads around Diabetes
by Wrexham Maelor Hospital (Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board)
The Wrexham young adult diabetes service aims to provide the best care to young adults living with diabetes in North East Wales. Building on previous success in developing innovative models of transition, the team undertook an 18-month pilot project to make effective use of temporary clinical psychology provision. Aware that young adults are often challenging, high-risk and difficult to engage, the service adopted a fully-integrated model for psychologist involvement. It actively sought individuals experiencing psychological distress via in-clinic screening. Staff and service user surveys indicated that the project was well received, and emergency care admissions reduced.
Judges’ comments:
“An outstanding, innovative programme aimed at helping one of the patient groups most in need of psychological support services. Excellent tracking of important clinical indicators, which will surely demonstrate a meaningful impact in the long term. Impressive user feedback and good evidence of efforts to spread uptake to other localities.”
HIGHLY COMMENDED
Engaging Young People with their Type 1 Diabetes Through Sport
by Department of Paediatric Diabetes, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board
The University Hospital of Wales’ Diabetes Team supports young people (YP) with Type 1 diabetes (T1D) up to the age of 25. This includes approximately 300 children and YP across Cardiff and Vale University Health Board. The YP suggested they would appreciate the opportunity to focus on mind and body, meet an inspirational role model living with T1D, and participate in sport and peer support. The result was a Futsal day (a form of indoor football) organised for 25 YP with T1D aged 10-14 and 16-25, facilitated by The Diabetes Football Community, involving physical activity and education.
Judges’ comments:
“The Department of Paediatric Diabetes have produced a novel approach to encouraging engagement in young people living with this condition, which has enormous appeal for hard-to-reach individuals and great potential for widespread uptake. They have strong user feedback, which paves the way to long-term impact assessment.”
