STAYWELL Diabetes is designed to help patients discover where they have crucial gaps in their self care knowledge. It then delivers information and advice to help patients plug those knowledge gaps before complications develop. In addition, the system provides valuable data to practitioners and management.

If a practice saves ONE emergency admission per annum as a result of using Staywell, the service will deliver a financial return on investment of roughly tenfold.

Benefits to Patients

• Better self care through improved knowledge
• More likely to have all necessary check ups and tests
• More informed access to national and local sources of support

Benefits to GPs, Practice Nurses and Specialist Nurses

• Reduced outpatient referrals and emergency hospital admissions
• Increased medication compliance, lower prescribing costs
• Improved management leading to increased uptake of QOF points
• Identification of knowledge gaps helping to identify individual patient needs
• Help to plan and review individual patient care with appropriate interventions

Benefits to PCTs and SHAs

• Supports performance monitoring, demand management and the development of LTC strategies
• Cost savings through reduced referrals, better medication compliance**.
• Contributes to clinical governance, patient involvement, equality and exclusion programmes

Patient Participation

Typically, patients being reminded about their annual check up will be invited to use the new service. They can be “recruited” at other ties and places. They can participate online, or by using practice touchscreens or PCs where these are available. Alternatively, they can be given a printed questionnaire to complete and hand back to their practice. The process is designed to create minimal workload for practices while delivering many benefits at low cost.

For further information: sarah.biggs@intouchwithhealth.co.uk (01285 657516)