Charity looking for diabetes champs

A diabetes charity is urging health professionals in Forth Valley to help them pioneer care improvements.

Diabetes UK is on the lookout for healthcare specialists to back its Clinical Champions programme.

The award-winning initiative was launched in 2014, in partnership with pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.

It aims to balance out variations in patient care provided across the UK for people living with the illness.

A total of 105 clinicians with an interest in the illness have been recruited to boost their leadership skills and champion provision for the condition.

They have helped train thousands of others and developed innovative clinics, reduced medication errors and increased the number of patients who receive specialised treatment but more are still needed.

New champions will be selected based on criteria including leadership potential, clinical expertise and a passion for transforming care for those living with diabetes. They will be offered two years of training alongside their clinical work.

Angela Mitchell, national director of Diabetes Scotland, said: “Diabetes is the most devastating and fastest growing health crisis of our time, affecting 4.7 million people across the UK including over 300,000 in Scotland. When diabetes is not well managed, it is associated with serious complications including amputation, sight loss, stroke and kidney failure.

“The Clinical Champions programme is about empowering local clinicians to lead on delivering the best possible care for people living with diabetes in their local area. This is the sixth year of the programme and we are looking to expand our reach further to recruit the diabetes leaders of the future to transform the care and lives of people living with diabetes.”

Further information is available from 0207 424 1052 or emailing clinicalchampions@ diabetes.org.uk.