A senior podiatrist from Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham has been selected as a Diabetes UK Clinical Champions, to help transform care for people living with diabetes in the Midlands area.

Jayne Robbie, a podiatrist with University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, was chosen for her passion and commitment to excellence in diabetes care.

Diabetes is a condition where there is too much glucose in the blood because the body cannot use it properly. There are more than 180,000 people living with diabetes in Birmingham and the Black Country. If not managed well, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications such as sight loss, amputation, kidney failure and stroke.

Diabetes care can vary widely in different regions, and many people struggle to access the vital services they need to manage their condition well. As a clinical champion, Jayne will join a two-year leadership development programme, supported by Diabetes UK. Through her training, she will identify areas in need of improvement and drive vital changes to the diabetes services that people in the local area receive.  

Jayne Robbie said: “I am so delighted to have been appointed as a Diabetes UK Clinical Champion.  I’m excited to represent both podiatry and the Allied Health Professions in this prestigious award and am looking forward to improving the care available to patients with diabetic foot problems.

“I aim to tackle this by evaluating independent prescribing for podiatrists as a way of reducing life changing foot complications and avoiding hospital admissions and amputations with timely access to antibiotics as well as alleviating some of the pressures on busy GP and hospital services.”

Jayne is one of twenty UK healthcare professionals, including consultants, nurses, GPs, dietitians, podiatrists, pharmacists and psychologists to be appointed as clinical champions this year.

Peter Shorrick, Diabetes UK Midlands and East Regional Head, said: “Investing in training and upskilling healthcare professionals can help reduce the number of serious diabetes-related complications, and in turn the devastating personal – and economic – costs they bring.

“Clinical champions like Jayne and Satyan play a critical role in improving the treatment and support people with diabetes receive so that they can lead long and healthy lives.”

The award-winning Clinical Champions programme provides leadership development to healthcare professionals, enabling them to improve diabetes care and bring innovative solutions to local problems. There are now 105 champions across the UK who have access to a network of like-minded clinicians with whom they can share expertise, experience and best practice.

If you are interested in becoming a Diabetes UK Clinical Champion for the 2020 – 2022 intake please contact:

Email: clinicalchampions@diabetes.org.uk
Tel: 020 7424 1052

This is a Diabetes UK project in collaboration with Novo Nordisk who are providing support and funding.