Children's Diabetes Service

What we do

The Children’s Diabetes Service is a multi-professional service serving the population of East Lancashire. The core team comprises of:

• Three consultant paediatricians with a special interest in diabetes
• Six paediatric diabetes specialist nurses (DSN)
• Two paediatric dietitians with a special interest in diabetes
• Two paediatric psychologists
• A paediatric psychology practitioner  
• A children’s health care assistant
• Dietetic support assistant
• Administrative assistant
• Three secretaries providing medical administrative support amongst other duties.

We are an approved centre for the RCPCH SPIN diabetes module for training in paediatric diabetes and often have a senior specialty trainee attached to our service. We have close links with colleagues in the adult diabetes service and have established a Transition Service for 16-19 year olds alongside one adult diabetologist, two adult DSNs and two dieticians in our transition clinics. These professionals have specifically allocated time funded by the paediatric service for transition.

The service supports a childhood population across Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Pendle, Rossendale and Hyndburn with an age range of 0 to 19. Currently we have over 297 patients registered with the service. We are also part of the North West Paediatric Diabetes Network.

The Childrens Diabetes Team in East Lancashire follow and adhere to the standards set out in the Best Practice Tariff for paediatric diabetes, introduced in April 2012.

Aims

The main aim of the Children’s Diabetes Service is to provide high quality, easily accessible, effective and cost efficient provision to the 0-19 population of Pennine Lancashire.

The team works to diabetes best practice guidance and other key national guidance where applicable, so that the children of East Lancashire receive optimal care appropriate to their individual needs in a safe, effective and personalised service. The team have an interest in innovative job planning to suit the needs of children and young people with diabetes.

Objectives

• To deliver high quality diabetes outpatient care including diagnosis, initial support and on going care for children and their families.
• To support children in community, home and school settings where appropriate.
• To provide acute assessment and treatment for children and young people.
• To provide personalised structured education programmes for children and young people.
• To deliver standards highlighted in diabetes best practice guidance.
• To provide 24 hour access to advice for children and young people with diabetes.
• To work in line with Department of Health guidance: Making every young person with diabetes matter; NICE guidance: CG15: Diagnosis and management of type 1 diabetes in children, young people and adults and TA151 Diabetes – insulin pump therapy.