Global award for pharmacy-led diabetes service
A pharmacy-led service in Edinburgh and the Lothians, set up to support people from ethnic minorities who are struggling to manage their diabetes, has been recognised by the International Diabetes Federation.
Lubna Kerr, clinical pharmacist, Lothian Health Board, was presented
with the DAWN
(diabetes attitudes wishes and needs) Award 2006 at the
IDF’s annual congress held in Cape Town, South Africa, last month.
The 2006 award of e15,000 had been earmarked for an initiative supporting disadvantaged
minority populations with diabetes. Dr Kerr told The Journal that her team had
set up a culturally sensitive diabetes service. “Patients who need access
to culturally appropriate care or medication review can be referred to the service
by any health care professional. Patients are seen either at home or in their
place of work or at a hospital clinic, whichever location suits them best.”
Dr Kerr explained that, as a bilingual pharmacist, she is able to communicate
with patients from a south Asian background.
For other non-English-speaking patients the service uses link workers who are
trained in diabetes management. “We also run an outreach service in a sports
centre where patients are offered access to three types of therapy: traditional,
holistic and exercise. This service is delivered by a diabetes nurse specialist,
another bilingual pharmacist and alternative therapists,” she said.
Dr Kerr, who was recently co-opted to become a trustee for Diabetes UK, hopes
to use the award money to expand her service to other ethnic minority populations
in Scotland and to share the lessons learnt with health professionals in other
parts of the world.
The DAWN award is given by Novo Nordisk on behalf of the IDF and an international
advisory panel. |
The
Pharmaceutical Journal
Acrobat
Reader