GIRFT is starting work on a new 18-month project aimed at improving the perioperative pathway of diabetes patients undergoing surgery.
The IP3D project (Improving the Perioperative Pathway of Patients with Diabetes) initially aims to support 16 trusts in England to implement a care pathway which empowers the patient in both preparing for surgery and throughout their whole perioperative journey.
The project is based on a model used at Ipswich Hospital, part of East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust, where it was shown to significantly reduce surgical length of stay and was well received by patients and staff.
The pathway features a number of innovations, including:
- a patient-held booklet containing important information relevant to the patient’s surgical inpatient stay (the Diabetes Perioperative Passport);
- the appointment of a perioperative diabetes specialist nurse; and
- the introduction of diabetes surgical study days.
Over the next 18 months the IP3D project aims to demonstrate that the pathway is transferable to other trusts, resulting in improvements in many aspects of diabetes care. Wider national implementation may then follow.
GIRFT’s joint lead for diabetes, Professor Gerry Rayman, and IP3D programme manager Emma Page will soon begin visiting trusts that have expressed an interest in taking part. For further information on the IP3D programme, contact Emma Page at nhsi.girft.ip3d@nhs.net
