NHS North Tyneside Clinical Commissioning Group has appointed Spirit as its provider of structured diabetes education (SDE) for patients newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.
The CCG has now chosen to expand the service to all patients with Type 2 diabetes, irrespective of when they were diagnosed. Additionally, to improve accessibility for all, patients will be able to self-refer and book their place onto the EMPOWER programme through an online portal.
Since its launch in North Tyneside last year, Spirit’s EMPOWER programme has consistently delivered SDE uptake rates in excess of 45%. With one of NHS England’s stated objectives in its Shared Planning Guidance for 2017-2019 being to increase referrals and attendance levels of diabetes education programmes, Spirit’s EMPOWER T2N programme presents an innovative and collaborative model of delivering SDE.
Dr Richard Scott, Clinical Chair of NHS North Tyneside CCG said: “Unlike Type 1 diabetes, which is not linked to lifestyle, Type 2 diabetes can be managed and even prevented through adopting healthy lifestyles. This is why it is so important that we are able to support people who have the condition to manage it well so that they can live long and healthy lives.”
“Our aim is to help people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes better understand their condition and to feel happier and healthier in managing it themselves.”
