24 January 2013
Diabetes Jersey have agreed to fully fund an assistant doctor until the end of 2013, and also share the salary of an additional senior specialist Diabetes Nurse on a 50:50 basis. Recruitment is in progress and it is hoped that the successful candidate will start work before June, bringing the number of nurses at the Diabetes Centre up to five.
Diabetes Nurses help around 2500 of the 4,000 people with diabetes in Jersey every year and between them have approximately 10,000 patient contacts every year, this number has increased from around 2,500 10 years ago. They will assist the Consultant in Diabetes to see more patients and work more closely with:
- GPs
- hospital staff
- practice nurses
- Family Nursing and Home Care
This latest initiative between HSSD and Diabetes Jersey brings Diabetes Jersey’s financial commitment to the Diabetes Centre since September 2011 to around £250,000.
Reduced patient waiting times
Brian Le Marquand, the Chairman of the charity, who negotiated the agreement, said that this latest initiative demonstrated the commitment that Diabetes Jersey have to continue to support people with diabetes in the Island.
"We are delighted to have been able to make this significant contribution to the staffing of the Diabetes Centre,” said Mr Le Marquand. Anyone who has the condition will know how beneficial it is to be able to see a specialist doctor or nurse who can answer questions and assist with any problems."
Dr Peter Bates, the department’s consultant, said "We are extremely pleased to have worked with Diabetes Jersey to secure this important funding, and are enormously grateful to the charity for their continued support. The chief role of Dr Ian Glass, who is a clinical assistant already working with us, is to prevent any recurrence of waiting lists to see a doctor at the Diabetes Centre.
"He will also assist me in promoting more comprehensive care from GPs and practice nurses in order to reduce some of the load on the Diabetes Centre, which will assist further in keeping patient waiting times to a minimum. Dr Glass will also assist Hospital staff in looking after the increasing number of patients with diabetes admitted to the wards at the General Hospital."
Dr Bates added "These initiatives are a perfect example of the third sector and public services working and planning together in co-operation to improve the health of Jersey's population while promoting ever-closer integrated working between Hospital services and Jersey's first class GPs, practice nurses and Family Nursing, as envisaged in the White Paper."
Angela Body, Director of Operations at the Hospital said "HSSD recognises that the demand for what the Diabetes Centre provides is ever-growing, and we are pleased to work with Diabetes Jersey to help keep waiting times short for our patients, and boost the excellent work which the Diabetes Centre already provides."
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