To mark World Diabetes Day, The Diabetes Exchange, NHS Alliance and Novo Nordisk have joined together to hold the first Diabetes Exchange Summit. The event will investigate how we can solve the challenges we face as levels of diabetes continue to rise, and look at how we can reduce variation in the quality of care, as well as stimulate the development and adoption of new models of out-of-hospital care.
An audience of commissioners, GPs, nurses and clinicians with a special interest in diabetes will examine and debate a range of topics, including: how data can help personalise care; what new models of diabetes care might look like; and examples of where diabetes care is being commissioned effectively.
A panel of health experts will also examine how we can afford cost-effective care for all, as the management of diabetes currently costs the NHS £10 billion every year; something that will continue to increase unless the healthcare system can adapt to this huge and growing problem.
Professor David Colin-Thomé OBE, chair of The Diabetes Exchange, said: “As levels of diabetes continue to increase at an alarming rate, and the cost grows, it’s important that we get care ‘right’ for patients. I’m confident that this Summit will help us identify how we can prevent as well as manage the rising demand, joining providers and commissioners, as well as the patient voice, to move us in the right direction.”
Dr Michael Dixon, chair, NHS Alliance, said: “Diabetes is one of the biggest problems facing the health service today, yet we are still lacking the right specialist knowledge within general practice to deal with rising demand. If we are to move more care into community settings then it’s important this changes. Through sharing learning and knowledge at events such as these we can take a big step forward in improving care and make excellent care a reality for all.”
Jaivir Pall, patient advocate, said: “I’m delighted to be involved with The Diabetes Exchange Summit as, while patient care is improving, there is still a long way to go. I’m hopeful that this event will help to improve the commissioning of services, so excellent care is provided for patients where they need it – closer to home – by the right person at the right time.”
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Notes to editor
The Diabetes Exchange Summit is being organised by C3 Collaborating for Health on behalf of The Diabetes Exchange, NHS Alliance and Novo Nordisk. Novo Nordisk has funded and supported the organisation of the event.
The Diabetes Exchange was launched in 2013 to create a community of excellence in diabetes commissioning; to help stimulate innovative ideas and share the experiences of commissioning for diabetes in the UK. The Diabetes Exchange initiative is funded and supported by Novo Nordisk.
C3 Collaborating for Health hosts The Diabetes Exchange Secretariat. C3’s mission is to prevent and delay non-communicable diseases by working in collaboration with partners who are committed to fighting the NCD epidemic.
NHS Alliance is the leading voice for providers of health and social care outside the secondary care setting. Working with their members, networks and partners, the Alliance is driving a new integrated and collaborative, community-based model of care for an ageing population living with long term conditions.
Novo Nordisk is a global healthcare company with more than 90 years of innovation and leadership in diabetes care.
For further information please contact Rebecca Riffel, rebecca.riffel@salixandco.com / 07725 555030