Rebranding of Our Group

As you will have noticed Diabetes UK has been rebranded and we felt this would be a good time to give our Group a new look and keep the corporate image. 

You will notice we have also changed our name to Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde Coast Children's Support Group.

AGM - 28 April 2012

Thanks to everyone who joined us for this annual event. 

Everyone was welcomed and the Committee were pleased to accept Angela Allison and Nicola Rowland as new members.

Joanne Bamber stepped down at Vice Chair but will remain on the Committe. She was thanked for her hard work over the years and particularly her organisation of the Golf Days.  Christine Gregson was voted in as new Vice Chair (the role will be supported by David Gregson).  The remainder of the Committee remains unchanged.

The children had a great time playing together at the Playbarn and a big Thank You to the owners of the Zoo for supplying the new venue at such short notice following the closure of the Hippodome.

JDRF Discovery Day - Manchester

Members of the Group had a great time at the JDRF Discovery Day in Manchester on Saturday 14 April.

The children loved spending time together watching Professor Brainstorm doing his experiments.

The Parents enjoyed listening to the speakers and the talks included a presentation on  Neuropathy. Some members had first heard Professor Rayaz Malik speak three years ago and it was great to hear that his JDRF Research programme had moved forward in such a positive way. It was also good to hear more information on pump therapy from the Manchester Team too.

"Getting Sorted", another project funded by JDRF, re: developing a model of care for children with T1 was also presented. Findings have show there is inequity (in the Yorkshire/Humber area - but will probably be shown nationally) in diabetes care, resources, education, psychological support, school/college and transitions to adult care.

The JDRF Discovery Days are highly recommended and can be found on their webpage http://www.jdrf.org.uk/page.asp?section=204&sectionTitle=Research+Events

National Tariff for Children with Type 1

From April 2012, paediatric diabetes services will attract a Best Practice Tariff payment of £3189 per patient per year, for every child or young person under the age of 19 attending a paediatric diabetes clinic, provided certain strict criteria are met. 

It is recognised that, initially, not all diabetes services will be able to qualify for the BPT as they may not be able to fulfil all the listed criteria. There will be a staged approach to the implementation of the BPT in the form of a transition year (2012-13) to give the opportunity for all diabetes services to improve.

Following the transition year, it is intended that the BPT will be fully implemented in 2013-14.

The BPT will be awarded provided the following criteria are met:

• On diagnosis, a young person with the diagnosis of diabetes is to be discussed with a senior member of paediatric diabetes team within 24 hours of presentation.
• All new patients must be seen by a member of the specialist paediatric diabetes team on the next working day.
• Each provider unit can provide evidence that each patient has received a structured education programme, tailored to the child or young person’s and their family’s needs, both at the time of initial diagnosis and on-going updates throughout the child or young person’s attendance at the paediatric diabetes clinic.   
• Each patient is offered a minimum of four clinic appointments per year with a multi-disciplinary team (MDT), i.e. a paediatric diabetes specialist nurse, dietician and doctor. The doctor should be a consultant or associate specialist/speciality doctor with training in paediatric diabetes or a specialist registrar training in paediatric diabetes, under the supervision of an appropriately trained consultant (see above). The dietician should be a paediatric dietician with training in diabetes (or equivalent appropriate experience).
• Each patient is offered additional 8 contacts (as a minimum) by the diabetes specialist team for check- ups, telephone contacts, school visits, e-mails, trouble shooting, advice, support etc.
• Each patient is offered at least one additional appointment per year with a paediatric dietician with training in diabetes (or equivalent appropriate experience).
• Each patient is offered a minimum of four haemoglobin HbA1C measurements per year. All results should be available and recorded at each MDT clinic appointment.
• All eligible patients should be offered annual screening as recommended by current NICE guidance.
• Each patient should have an annual assessment by their MDT as to whether input to their care by a clinical psychology input is needed and access to psychological support as appropriate.
• Each provider must participate in the annual Paediatric National Diabetes Audit.
• Each provider must actively participate in the local Paediatric Diabetes Network. A minimum of 60% attendance at regional network meetings needs to be demonstrated.
• Each provider unit must provide patients and their families with 24 hour access to expert advice on diabetes management
• Each provider unit must have a clear policy for transition to adult services.
• Each unit will have an Operational Policy, which should include within it a structured ‘high HbA1C’ policy, a clearly defined DNA/was not brought policy taking into account local safeguarding children board (LSB) policies and evidence of patient feedback on the service.

For the full document containing this information see http://www.diabetes.nhs.uk/networks/paediatric_network/

Coffee Morning - 3 March 2012

A big THANK YOU to All Hallows Church, Bispham for your support.  This morning's coffee morning raised the magnificant total of £358.49!

Thanks to Max's Granny for organising this with her friends.

Swimming Party - 26 February 2012

What a fantastic afternoon!  Thanks to everyone who came; we all have wonderful, kind, beautiful, compassionate and loving children who deal with the challenges of Type 1 diabetes with good humour and strength.  It is lovely to see them playing together and becoming firm friends!

Radio 4 - File on Four

The Elvy's were asked to contribute to this item by the DUK Media Office in their capacity as Media Volunteers.  A post anyone can volunteer for. 

Nationally there seem to be problems in providing a high standard of Diabetes care  and this interesting article highlights a number of failing areas including needless deaths of young people.

To listen to the podcast follow this link and pick the item for 21 February 2012 Diabetes Care: http://www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/series/fileon4

Raising the Profile of Type 1 Diabetes in the Media

Following a chance meeting with Nicola Jacques, the Garstang Courier's Reporter, she kindly agreed to do an article on Type 1 Diabetes.  We hope this will ensure other families realise there is a support network available should they want it!

http://www.garstangcourier.co.uk/lifestyle/living-with-childhood-diabetes-1-4273842

We are now on Facebook!

Find us on Facebook under Diabetes UK Fylde Coast Children's Support Group (Blackpool, Wyre and Fylde).

Diabetes Awareness Event - 21 January 2012

For the full report please see the dedicated tab below.

A new look for Diabetes UK

From 1 February 2012 Diabetes UK will be launching its new brand. 

DUK consulted widely with volunteers, supporters and healthcare professionals and people with diabetes and used their feedback to develop the brand.  Fundamental to the new brand is the strapline "CARE. CONNECT. CAMPAIGN." This is designed to communicate clearly what DUK do.  Their statement is:

"We provide care and support so that people can manage their diabetes effectively, we connect people with diabetes with each other and the services they need, and we campaign and fund research to create a better future for people affected by or at risk of diabetes".

Keep an eye out for the new logo when it is launched!