Newham diabetes Skype pilot success increases young people’s clinic attendance

A pilot scheme in Newham helping young people keep on top of their diabetes care has rolled out Skype appointments to all patients as part of a successful four-year trial.

Since launch in 2011, the Diabetes Appointments via Webcam in Newham (DAWN) scheme, web-based follow up is used routinely for young people aged 16-25 years, and 480 webcam appointments have been carried out, reducing ‘do not attends’ (DNA’s) from 30-50 per cent to 16 per cent.
The service was set up with the Health Foundation’s SHINE award (£75,000) and is thought to increase productivity and patient throughput by 22% – 28%, saving approximately £27 per consultant appointment in clinician time.

The service is offered by the Diabetes team at Newham University Hospital, Barts Health and supported by East London NHS Foundation Trust and Newham Clinical Commissioning Group.

Desiree Campbell-Richards, research nurse at Newham University Hospital, who has worked on the Skype project, said: “By giving young people the choice of using Skype we saw some patients who had disengaged with us come back to clinic.”

The Young Adult Diabetes Service at Newham has around 215 patients between 16 and 25 on its records. Attendance among these young people is flexible but patients are encouraged to attend at least three months a year. All patients with internet access are offered the option online contact via Skype.

For more information on the pilot please contact Joanne Morris joanne.morris@bartshealth.nhs.uk