To receive a report from the Corporate Director of Commissioning.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Commissioning, Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which sought to inform of the latest progress in the redesign of services for Diabetic patients in Trafford.

The author of the report and the Clinical Lead Diabetic Services Trafford CCG attended the meeting to present the information and address the enquiries of the Committee.

It was explained that diabetes was the long term condition with the fastest rising prevalence. It was estimated that the number of people with diabetes in the UK would rise to 4.6 million by 2030. In Trafford, there were over 12,500 diabetics aged 17+ registered with a GP.

 A primary care diabetes pilot project had been developed and was in the process of being rolled out in the Borough. The pilot hub had been operated for nine months from Partington Primary Practice; 25% of its patients, following a suitability assessment, had been offered the service. The pilot was part of a wider strategy to increase the quality of care and improve outcomes for Trafford patients with or at risk of developing diabetes.

Data analysis from a recent pilot hub evaluation had shown a 26% reduction in hospital first appointments and a 36% reduction in follow up appointments which would result in savings for the CCG and better quality outcomes for patients. This would also reduce the spend on secondary care.

The Trafford Care Coordination Centre (TCCC) supported the diabetes redesign through triaging GP referrals to ensure that only patients that could not be managed in primary care settings were referred to hospital services. The TCCC also contacted patients who no longer needed secondary care services to divert them to their GP surgeries. The TCCC was also developing an advocate role to support patients to manage their condition through changes to their lifestyle.

The programme of work for the wider diabetes model was at business case development stage and it would form part of the large scale CCG’s transformation portfolio of work for 2019/20.

Members sought and received clarification / commented on the following points:

-       Infrastructure not supportive of Diabetes care that should be provided in GP practices and need to train practice nurses on Diabetes treatment and care programme – It was explained that two new General Practitioners based in North Trafford were specialised in diabetes.

-       Diabetes and link to poverty – It was explained that, although poor lifestyle was often associated with poor income, Diabetes also affected people who lived in affluent areas.

-       Strategic approach to tackle Diabetes – It was explained that patient education was pivotal. Currently, in Trafford there were two education programmes to train patients to manage their condition in order to improve their overall health and wellbeing. However, patients’ take-up of these courses was low and it was part of the CCG’s plan to review the courses to make them more accessible and effective.

-       Developing Diabetes standards of care across Trafford – It was explained that the next stage of the project was to produce a business case to roll out the pilot across the Borough.

-       Young people and Health and Wellbeing agenda – It was explained that CCG worked closely with Public Health to identify Trafford’s population health and needs and to commission services that aimed to improve the health and wellbeing outcomes for residents. One of the Sub-Committee of Trafford Health and Wellbeing Board looked at issues such as child obesity, exercise and healthy diet.

The Committee welcome the report and acknowledged the numerous benefits linked with the provision of Diabetes care and treatment in G.P. practices. However, Members stressed that adequate training and support had to be in place for health professionals to enable them to provide optimum Diabetes care across the Borough. The Committee also requested that a progress report be presented next Municipal Year with details of how Diabetes care provision in GP settings could meet the needs of the ethnic diverse population across the Borough.

RESOLVED that:

1.     The progress concerning the redesign of services for Diabetic patients in Trafford be noted;

2.    A progress report be presented to the Health Scrutiny Committee during next Municipal Year with details of how Diabetes care provision in GP settings could meet the needs of the ethnic diverse population across the Borough.

At this point in the proceedings, Councillor Brophy left the meeting.