A newly-integrated diabetes service is being established by the NHS Liverpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CGG) which has invested £2.3 million in the initiative.
There will be six community-based clinics in Speke, Garston, Kensington, Townsend Lane, Breeze Hill and Princes Park Health Centre as part of the service.
The clinics will provide specialist support to diabetes patients and help them to manage their condition. Specialist education sessions will also provide advice on coping with diabetes and will be available to any patients.
Josie Neil, communications manager at Liverpool CGG, told JMU Journalism: “Diabetes is one of the major challenges facing the NHS and is a major cause of death. The number of people in the UK with diabetes is increasing and is projected to rise from 3.1 million to 3.8 million by 2020.”
“The Liverpool Diabetes Partnership represents a new way of delivering diabetes services, with a considerable shift in focus from hospital-based case to the delivery care in the community. Patients will continue to see consultants, nurses, GPs, dieticians and podiatrists like before, but this will take place in community-based clinics closer to home.”
Hospitals across Liverpool, such as Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, The Royal Liverpool, and Broad Green University Hospital NHS Trust will come together to deliver the service with the same vision, to improve outcomes for people living with diabetes in Liverpool.
A dedicated telephone advice line for patients and healthcare professionals will also be available from 12-6:30pm, Monday to Friday. It will be manned by Diabetes Specialist Nurses, who will provide free, confidential and expert advice.
Neil added: “Liverpool has many excellent services and staff but these are often fragmented, which can lead to delays and multiple assessments by a number of clinicians, particularly for those people with complex health needs.
“The new diabetes service will offer patients the opportunity to access the advice and support they need to live well and manage their diabetes in one place.”