St Vincent’s Diabetes Service goes regional
St Vincent’s Diabetes Service goes regional
27 Feb 2024
Data shows that Type 2 diabetes is increasing nationally, and is more prevalent in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, those from culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and people living in rural and remote communities where the necessary expertise just isn’t available.
Because of this unmet need, rural areas are experiencing high diabetes related presentations to local hospital emergency departments, often with complications leading to death.
With low GP retention, and a lack of specialist endocrinologists and diabetes practitioners to manage the growing number of complex diabetes patients in regional NSW, the St Vincent’s team have been advocating to address this health disadvantage facing our regional communities.
To this end, St Vincent’s Diabetes Service recently launched the Regional Education Access and Management Program (DREAM) initiative in partnership with Murrumbidgee PHN, delivering their first service in GP Clinics in Tumut, NSW.
Until now, these patients would either have to consult with a private Endocrinologist in Wagga Wagga or travel to Canberra for treatment – over 2.5 hours away.
“The team are establishing relationships to provide diabetes education to general practitioners and practice nurses and to deliver health promotion to remote and regional communities for diabetes prevention to ensure the rural and regional diabetes population receive the best possible and equitable care and experience”, said Prof Jerry Greenfield.
St Vincent’s Diabetes Clinical Nurse Consultant, Gael Holters who has led this project was the first St Vincent’s team member on the ground in Tumut. "It’s been an eye-opening experience, allowing me to truly understand the unique challenges and needs of rural communities in managing diabetes. Through this initiative, we will be able to tailor our approach to best fit the circumstances here, ensuring that we're not just implementing standard protocols, but rather crafting solutions that reflect the realities of rural life”, Gael said.
The DREAM team provide a monthly multidisciplinary Program team undertaking GP Case Conferencing and complication reviews, provide education and training for medical management, insulin starts, provide dietary advice, screen diabetic foot disease and screen for retinopathy using a non-mydriatic retinal camera.
“The importance of addressing diabetes in rural and remote communities is well recognised due to individual circumstances – like distance from health clinics, financial limitations, mistrust, communication issues, and high rates of health illiteracy. We can help alleviate these barriers so that people get the care they need. It will be a journey of learning and adapting, but ultimately, it's about improving the health outcomes and quality of life for individuals living with diabetes in these areas. And upskilling our fellow clinicians in diabetes management”, said Gael.
“Tumut is just the start, we’re looking toward meeting the gaps in other parts of NSW where we can help those most in need”, said Gael.
This DREAM Initiative is proudly supported by St Vincent’s Curran Foundation.
St Vincent’s is grateful to Little Wings, a charitable organisation that provides free flights to sick children and their families throughout regional NSW, ACT & QLD. They are supporting St Vincent’s through their ‘Medical Wings’ program, who fly our teams to regional areas to deliver these vital services.
Gael boarding the flight to Tumut