Diabetes Service Update
The WBOP diabetes team remains short staffed. Our Diabetes Nurse specialist works 5 hours a week. We acknowledge that has made it very difficult for practice teams who require additional support managing patients with complex diabetes needs in a primary care setting.
While we are working through our recruitment process, we would encourage you to continue sending in referrals for either advice or patient consultation as these will continue to be triaged by our PHO clinical staff. Please send your Bpac referral requesting advice to ‘WBOPPHO Diabetes Educator ‘ requesting ‘Advice only’.
The PHO Diabetes Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS) will send back written advice +/- a suggested diabetes care plan. Where appropriate, our Diabetes CNS can also arrange to support your practice teams in face-to-face consultation with your more complex patients, alternatively you can call 027 2189 148 (hospital diabetes nurse educator)
Below are some resources to help you with the management of your patient with diabetes while we continue to work on our Diabetes service.
Comprehensive clinical guidelines on the NZSSD website with newly updated guidelines for people with type 2 diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes Management Guidance - New Zealand Society for the Study of Diabetes (nzssd.org.nz)
Health navigator is also a useful site for diabetes advice for clinicians and great patient resources including new medications.
NZ health information | Health Navigator NZ
Please continue to refer your questions or patients for all Type 1 diabetes to the hospital diabetes team. This is done by Bpac referral to BOPDHB Public Medical Diabetes
Te Whatu Ora Diabetes service phone contact 075798765
Recruitment is ongoing as are discussions with our hospital colleagues as we endeavour to find solutions to the current workforce shortage.
