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Diabetes specialist nurses 'could save NHS £100 million'

05/03/2008

Diabetes specialist nurses (DSNs) could save the NHS £100 million by reducing the number of people admitted to hospital, a new study claims.

Researchers at the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) NHS trust conducted a 12-month trial of DSNs working in the emergency medical unit on weekdays to proactively identify people with diabetes.

Forty-two per cent (47) of the 111 diabetics identified were discharged within 24 hours.

As the average hospital stay for a person with diabetes is 11 days and the daily bed-stay costs £215, the researchers say the 47 fewer admissions equates to a saving of £111,155 for the hospital in one year.

Helen Atkins, DSN at the UHL NHS trust, said: "Our research shows how proactive DSN intervention can facilitate more appropriate care and help save money.

"After the positive results of the evaluation we have now introduced the same service in A&E [accident and emergency] and other medical admissions units within UHL Trust. In addition, our trial only used a DSN from Monday to Friday. Extending the service to weekends could generate even more savings."

The research is to be presented today at Diabetes UK's annual professional conference in Glasgow.

Commenting on the study, the charity's chief executive Douglas Smallwood said: "Diabetes UK estimates that people with diabetes spend 1.1 million days in hospital a year. Almost £100 million pounds could be saved if these hospital days were reduced by 42 per cent."

He added: "DSNs are already seen as the lynchpin of the healthcare team by people with diabetes in their ongoing care.

"This research is yet further proof of the vital role DSNs play in improving the health of people with diabetes and the financial woes of the NHS. With spiralling rates of diabetes, the government has to look to long term solutions and invest in specialist staff such as DSNs."