Portsmouth News

GP and nurse aim to help a million diabetes sufferers

Duo’s new health and wellbeing consultanc­y

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A WELL-KNOWN GP has joined forces with a nurse to help people suffering from health issues such as ear wax and diabetes.

Dr Donal Collins, who was a GP partner at Highlands Surgery in Fareham for 25 years, has set up new enterprise BarlowColl­ins alongside specialist NHS manager and retired nurse Lin Barlow.

They hope to improve the health prospects for more than a million Type 2 diabetes sufferers with their new healthcare and wellbeing consultanc­y, which officially opened at Fareham Innovation Centre on Friday.

Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage attended the launch event to hear more about its range of services, including high-tech microsucti­on services for people suffering from impacted wax.

Ms Barlow said: ‘Ear wax is a real issue for sufferers. With our state of the art equipment, years of experience and range of price points we are aiming to make microsucti­on accessible for everyone in need of it.'

BarlowColl­ins will also be providing tailored advice and remedial treatment for people suffering from Type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic related syndromes all related to hyperinsul­inaemia (Insulin resistance).

Diabetes is one of the underlying conditions that can make people more vulnerable to the worst symptoms of Covid-19.

‘Type 2 diabetes affects one in 10 adults over the age of 40 and is a rapidly growing issue, not just in the UK but globally,’ said Dr Collins.

‘Many of the contributo­ry causes relate back to diet and lifestyle which can be tackled effectivel­y by giving people accurate informatio­n about their blood sugars, together with a tailored programme to bring those markers under control.'

Dr Collins has successful­ly treated Type 2 diabetes in people of all ages, including people in their 70s and 80s with just dietary interventi­on to reduce hunger.

He said: ‘We would like to give one million people with Type 2 diabetes the opportunit­y to get their disease into remission, and a life off medication­s with better outcomes. This creates value for the individual and the system.'

Prior to setting up the new venture, Dr Collins directed a community company, Fareham Area Clinical Enterprise Ltd (FACE), which carried out around 6,000 ear microsucti­on procedures a year.

He also latterly chaired south Hampshire Primary Care Alliance (a federation of 40 GP practices) and was clinical lead for the NHS Vanguard programme in the region, which won a System Leadership Initiative award from the Health Service Journal in 2019.

 ?? Picture: Habibur Rahman ?? WELLBEING MP Caroline Dinenage in the hot seat with operations manager, Lin Barlow and clinical director, Donal Collins at the new clinic
Picture: Habibur Rahman WELLBEING MP Caroline Dinenage in the hot seat with operations manager, Lin Barlow and clinical director, Donal Collins at the new clinic

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