Patients with, or at risk from, diabetes are benefitting from on-ward remote consultation from a team of specialist nurses and medics.
The North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust diabetes team have introduced remote video consultation for patients in hospital, reducing the need to visit wards – a priority during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Nicknamed VADER (Video Assisted Diabetes Expertise Review) the secure screen-to-screen system allows ward staff and patients to access the expert advice of the diabetes team safely and swiftly.
Julie Sinclair, lead diabetes nurse, said: “COVID-19 has meant all of us, even medical staff, have to limit our time on the wards.
“Using the video consultation means we can still help any patient admitted to hospital who has diabetes, without the ward having to deal with extra people as they care for their patients.
“It’s working really well and the patients have been very responsive to discussing the health issues via a monitor.”
The diabetes nurse team advise everyone to adopt a balanced diet, limiting their intake of sugar, and to take regular exercise to reduce the risk of developing type two diabetes.