DESMOND training wins Skills for Health sponsored award
An innovative training programme for diabetes was recognised as an example of UK healthcare at its best in the Health Service Journal Awards in November 2007. The winner of the ‘Skills Development' award, sponsored by Skills for Health, was the DESMOND (Diabetes Education for Ongoing and Newly Diagnosed) programme.
The unique programme provides training and quality development for facilitators delivering patient self-management. It has been running for three years and provides Type 2 Diabetes sufferers with the knowledge, skills and supporting resources to successfully self-manage their condition. Six hours of structured education are delivered by two trained healthcare professional educators in a unique style developed by a multidisciplinary task group of professionals, academics and people with diabetes.
Part of the programme's success is the way the training is delivered - the benefits of which were proven in a randomised controlled trial funded by Diabetes UK. Individuals are put forward by their employing trust to become potential DESMOND educators. The response has been excellent and by June 2007 the training had produced over 350 graduates in 67 primary care organisations across the UK.
The DESMOND project is a unique example of how committed individuals are successfully working across traditional NHS boundaries to provide new health initiatives of real benefit to patients.
Marian Carey, National Director of the DESMOND Programme, commented:
"This very prestigious award means so much to our trainers. This national recognition is a real validation of their work. I am delighted for all of them and very proud of their achievement."
Skills for Health is delighted to be associated with a programme which illustrates high quality practice in patient care and practice, and we hope this award will help the programme achieve the widespread recognition as a model of good practice it deserves.
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