Supporting a new culture of innovative collaboration for diabetes service redesign through a bespoke professional education programme for primary care practitioners

Aim: Professional education is one of the key requirements of a new
diabetes service. To facilitate this, a bespoke university work-based
learning programme was developed following a primary care training
needs analysis.
Methods: Four teaching modules – injectable therapy initiation,
injectable therapy management, foot screening and caring for people
with Type 2 diabetes – were developed by the University of
Huddersfield in collaboration with local specialist diabetes teams.
The University hosts the training and provides the infrastructure. A
work-based learning approach to facilitate education in practice is
supported by mentors from specialist services. Assessment of
competence is measured against a validated tool and clinical
management plans.
Results: Nine practitioners attended the initial ‘Assessing for and
Initiating Injectable TherapiesModule’ – six have completed. Nineteen
practitioners attended the first‘ManagingType 2 Diabetes Programme’
and 22 practitioners have attended a ‘Managing Injectable Therapies
Module’ – nine have completed. Ninety practitioners applied for the
foot care programme. Thirty-eight practitioners attended two courses
and are undergoing podiatry mentorship assessment.
Conclusions: Collaborative working to develop bespoke courses
ensures a consistent approach which is sensitive to local needs and
supports local pathways. Student evaluations of the training
programme are positive, particularly mentorship by specialist staff in
practice which has fostered a climate of closer collaborative working.
Joint working with pharmaceutical partners has assisted in course
promotion and post course support. The University has strengthened