Local Pharmacist chosen as diabetes champion for County Durham and Darlington

A pharmacist from Darlington has been selected as a Diabetes UK Clinical Champion, to help transform care for people living with diabetes in the County Durham and Darlington area.   

Hannah Beba, a senior pharmacist for diabetes at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust was chosen for her passion for, 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. If not managed well, both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes can lead to serious complications that include blindness, 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, Hannah 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 Darlington and County Durham receive.    

Hannah said: "I'm really honoured to have been chosen to be a Diabetes UK Clinical Champion. I'm excited to work with my peers to build better links between the various sectors of pharmacy, harnessing the resource available to deliver better diabetes care. Pharmacists and pharmacy teams are a relatively untapped resource and I am keen to shine a light on the exceptional care that is being delivered and develop interest and competence." 

Hannah is one of twenty UK healthcare professionals, including consultants, nurses, GPs, dietitians, podiatrists, pharmacists and psychologists to be appointed as a Clinical Champion this year.   

Amy Rylance, Head of Healthcare Engagement at Diabetes UK said: "Diabetes is the most devastating and fastest-growing health crisis of our time, and now affects 4.6 million people across the UK. That's more than cancer and dementia combined - and more than any other serious health condition in the UK.   

"Investing in diabetes care in this way, will help reduce serious complications, and in turn reduce the devastating personal - and economic - costs that can result from poor management of the condition.   

"Champions like Hannah play a critical role in improving the services people with diabetes receive, and contribute massively to our vision of creating a world where diabetes can do no harm." 

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 85 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 2019-2021 intake please contact clinicalchampions@diabetes.org.uk or call 020 7424 1892. This is a Diabetes UK project in collaboration with Novo Nordisk who are providing support and funding.

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Published 19th July 2018