Agenda item

Purpose: To receive an update on Diabetes Services since attending the Health Scrutiny Committee in June 2023.

Keira Walker (Integrated Diabetes Delivery Network Manager, BOB ICB) presented the report on Diabetes in West Berkshire (Agenda item 9).

During the presentation the following points were highlighted:

·         The achievement of all eight care processes in West Berkshire were above the national average. They were slightly below the national average in the achievement of the three treatment targets.

·         Diabetes services were focused on secondary prevention which was to stop deterioration after diagnosis.

·         Locally there was good uptake in Berkshire West for a nationally commissioned lifestyle intervention (NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme). This would now be expanded across BOB (Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West).

·         There had been very good uptake in Berkshire West in the Type Two Path to Remission using the shakes and soups diet.

During the debate the following points were discussed:

·         It was highlighted that weight management was crucial and that programmes needed to be directed to the right people. It was advised that the programme was targeted to address health inequalities and that all the places on the programme had been filled.

·         It was noted that there were variations between practices in meeting performance targets in the eight care processes. I was advised that variations between practices were a challenge and that it was being looked at across Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West. They were looking to fill the gaps in workforce, educate staff and integrate services so that there was a multidisciplinary approach.

·         It was advised that the variation in deprived areas was not due to workforce gaps. It was a lengthy support process of education which was not part of core medical services provided by general practice.

·         It was noted that 10% of the NHS budget was related to diabetes and that it was largely preventable. The public health approach to diabetes was highlighted. April Peberdy (Acting Service Director, Communities and Wellbeing) confirmed that a healthy weight and a physically active population was key. The community outreach wellness service was currently delivering health checks to the population. As part of this advice was given about healthy eating and physical activity. There were also opportunities in West Berkshire such as the West Berkshire Exercise Referral Scheme in leisure centres and the healthy walks programme.

·         Kate Toone (Project Manager, Adult Social Care) provided an update on the Community Wellness Outreach Service. This was a BOB ICB funded programme carried out jointly with Reading and Wokingham. The target was 2,500 targeted health checks across West Berkshire. Each local authority had slightly different models. It was advised that 439 health checks had been carried out across West Berkshire since the pilot began in January 2024. 227 of these were in target priority groups. Letters had recently been sent to 4000 eligible people and so uptake would increase in coming months. As a result of the health checks, 13 people had been referred to the GP and 3 had been referred to the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme. Cardiovascular disease champions were being recruiting from the community. Community outreach was taking place. An example of an event with Veolia employees was shared where healthy eating education was shared, and good feedback was received. It was highlighted that people were supporting each other because of the event.

·         Early indicators were that the Community Wellness Outreach Service was effective so far. The service would be evaluated at the end to see if there was scope for extension. There were some learnings from it and evidence would be used to make further decisions.

RESOLVED to note the report.