New health service to cut waiting times for diabetes patients

People with type 2 diabetes in South Tyneside may soon benefit from faster access to healthcare thanks to the launch of a new service.
Developed by South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust, the service will involve the running of five new clinics at Cleadon Park Primary Care Centre in South Shields, which will ensure diabetic patients with more urgent, specialised needs are seen swiftly to by the most appropriate healthcare professional .
It is hoped the clinics will help free up resources at GP practices, and thus slash waiting times for routine patients with type 2 diabetes.
Consultant Dr Jeevan Mettayil explained: “Diabetes services in primary and secondary care are under increasing pressure to continue to deliver high quality care . These pressures challenge the traditional models of diabetes care, which is why we have introduced our new intermediate service.
“This will cut waiting times because routine patients will not be referred into the hospital system, freeing up resources there so patients with more urgent, specialised needs can be seen and reviewed more promptly.
“This innovation is about patients seeing the right healthcare professional at the right time, and in the right place.”
Dr Colin Bradshaw, who will run three of the clinics, commented: “For the last 20 years, South Tyneside has been at the forefront of developing diabetes care and this is another example of the local innovative approach.
“Our ambition is to get the patients to the person with the appropriate skills faster than anywhere else in the country.”
Latest statistics from South Tyneside Council’s joint strategic needs assessment show that more than 7,800 people over the age of 16 have been diagnosed with diabetes, although health experts believe the true figure is closer to 9,700.