PRUH diabetes service hosts Gareth bacon MP
30 October 2025 - The team showcased their pioneering service initiatives
The diabetes service at Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH) welcomed Gareth Bacon, MP for Orpington, on Friday 24 October. The service, delivered by a multidisciplinary team, provides specialist care for patients with diabetes during a hospital stay, including children and maternity service users.
The success of the service, including being one of only three across the country to achieve a Diabetes Care Accreditation Programme (DCAP) from the Royal College of Physicians (RCP), has seen it rapidly expand. Several pioneering clinics now form part of the service including one that supports diabetes patients that attend hospital via the emergency department, known as Reducing Admissions in Diabetes (RAID), a discharge clinic (DWARD); and a clinic that supports cancer patients requiring urgent scans that could be delayed due to diabetes-related complications.
Dr Adrian Li, Consultant in Diabetes and Clinical Lead, who led the visit explained that RAID has significantly reduced hospital admissions and DWARD has reduced length of stay, all while maintaining patient safety standards. The bespoke cancer clinic has also reduced cancelled procedures and allowed patients with diabetes to receive timely and vital cancer care. Mr Bacon, who met with a range of staff across the team, also heard of the formalised preoperative assessment pathway. This has been established to support patients in managing their diabetes effectively ahead of surgery, reducing cancellations and improving outcomes as a result.
During the visit Mr Bacon had the opportunity to meet a patient living with life-changing complications from diabetes who had benefited from the specialist care and advice the team provides. Hollie spoke to Gareth about living with diabetes, her current hospital stay and the involvement of the diabetes team in supporting her while an inpatient.
Lynne Jerreat, Lead Diabetes Specialist Nurse who was part of the visit, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Gareth and share an insight into our team’s work, supporting patients with diabetes who come to hospital.
“The passion and expertise within our team of nurses, doctors, pharmacists and therapists is empowering people to manage their diabetes with increased confidence. This means they have less time in hospital and more time to enjoy life.
“Seeing the positive impact our ongoing service improvements have on our patients is what makes it all worthwhile. I work with a fantastic team – together we are constantly striving to make things better for local people living with diabetes and this is why we have achieved so much.”