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The paediatric diabetes team at Good Hope Hospital has topped the table in a national audit which looks at children’s diabetes care.

The National Paediatric Diabetes Audit (NPDA) measures the health outcomes and experiences of children with diabetes in 171 clinics delivering this care in England and Wales.

For the year ending March 2024, Good Hope Hospital has come out top for the measure of HbA1c, which reflects a patient's average blood sugar levels over the past two to three months. The figure shows the resounding success that families and young people with type 1 diabetes have achieved in controlling their blood sugar levels.  The audit data is adjusted to take into account the different patient populations cared for by the clinics.

Dr Catherine Field, Consultant Clinical Psychologist, said: “The whole team are delighted to have achieved such good results, as well as the lowest average Hba1c achieved by any clinic to date.  This reflects the hard work and dedication of our patients and their families, who have believed and trusted in us to guide them to really good diabetes management and long-term health.”

The team is recognised by the audit as being early adopters, and now the highest users, of hybrid closed-loop pumps in the country.  The pumps, which use artificial intelligence-supported technology, are offered to every child and young person and the recent audit shows a staggering 90% take-up rate. The closed-loop insulin pump combines a continuous glucose monitor and a smart insulin pump to automatically adjust the insulin delivered based on the patient’s real-time glucose readings. This technology aims to mimic the function of a healthy pancreas by safely automating the process as much as possible.  

Dr Catherine Field added: “Whilst our families do all the day-to-day work of managing diabetes, we must acknowledge the key role of our Consultant Paediatrician, Dr Michael Plunkett, in being such early adopters of the latest technology.  Dr Plunkett’s expertise, his motivation and commitment to providing outstanding care to every family, at every appointment, over the past eight years, has been the driving force behind our success.  This is, of course, supported by our very able paediatric diabetes specialist nurses, some of whom have been working in our team for many years; and expert input from our dieticians.  I have so many families who tell me how lucky they feel to have the support of this amazing team”. 

The team’s patient-centered approach also extends to organising various social activities for their patients, including summer picnics, regular ‘walk and talk’ sessions in local parks, Christmas party, summer camps and a dedicated information session for patients transitioning to secondary school.  

Ed Hewins, 16, has been a patient at Good Hope’s paediatric diabetes unit for just over a year.

He said: “The team are supportive, approachable, and treat you as a person, not as a diagnosis.  

“They encourage you to help solve problems and overcome challenges yourself, so you are in control of how you manage your diabetes.

“Just two weeks after my diagnosis, I was due to complete my bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expedition in the Peak District - I didn’t know whether I would be able to go. The team made me believe that I could do it and helped me put everything in place so that I could complete the challenge. I’ve since gone on to achieve my silver medal too!”

Simon Jarvis, Hospital Executive Director at Good Hope Hospital, added: “I’m incredibly proud of the paediatric diabetes team and the difference they make to the lives of so many children, young people, and their families, living with diabetes. Their approach, which really puts patients in the driving seat, has shown amazing results in this recent audit. A huge thank you to the team for their hard work and dedication.”