Getting The Word Out

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With Diabetes being one of the conditions that was labelled as high-risk, the Paediatric Diabetes department of RHCYP were “extremely grateful” to have its app in place before the height of the Covid-19 crisis. Having an app in place beforehand meant that this department was better prepared to deal with the influx of inquiries about shielding, home care and access to in-person appointments. Patients’ networks were encouraged to use the app to find the answers to their frequently asked questions and information about the changes to the service previously offered.

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Before its app, this department relied very heavily on a number of different paper resources and instructional materials to keep their patients, their families and carers informed of the services offered and the latest guidance on Paediatric Diabetes. As research on Paediatric Diabetes is on-going, the care advice often needed updating, and this proved difficult to manage, especially as the team had to try and keep track of which patients had which version of information. To avoid parents, families and carers seeking answers on the internet, the app serves as a “one-stop-shop” hosting only the most relevant and up-to-date information, ensuring that everyone is reliably kept in the loop.

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Reassuring The Extended Support Network

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Having easy access to helpful articles and resources has made a significant difference in reassuring the patient’s support networks. The support network of a child with diabetes often extends past the family to include teachers, after school group leaders and carers. Keeping the whole network reliably informed had previously proved to be a real challenge, as this involved the circulation of many different paper resources. Allowing the whole network to have access to the app, helped to build a supportive and informed community, which in turn helps to better support the care of the child. 

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The Diaries and Devices section of the app has proved particularly useful, as it hosts a number of video demonstrations of administering medication and instructions for using the variety of pumps and devices patients may have. This section has helped to bolster the confidence of parents and carers who are responsible for monitoring the child’s health.