Wiltshire Health and Care wins national Insulin Safety Week Excellence Award

Wiltshire Health and Care’s Lead Community Clinical Diabetes Specialist Nurse, Beth Kelly, has been awarded the prestigious Insulin Safety Week Excellence Award, part of the QiC Diabetes awards programme.

This national recognition celebrates Beth and her team’s commitment to improving insulin safety through targeted education and awareness initiatives across Bath, Swindon, Wiltshire, and Somerset.

Under Beth’s leadership, the team participated in Insulin Safety Week for the first time, implementing a series of activities that directly addressed key areas identified in a pre-campaign safety and quality audit. This audit, conducted across 11 sites, revealed a need for focused efforts on safe insulin administration and technology usage, following a significant number of insulin-related incidents.

Beth and her team organised a comprehensive program, including a week-long series of lunchtime webinars, covering topics like correct insulin administration, understanding insulin regimens, and recognising signs of insulin errors.

The campaign also involved in-person visits to 54 sites, where educational materials were distributed, and interactive Q&A sessions allowed healthcare professionals to engage with diabetes technology directly. Over 300 healthcare professionals were reached through these activities, contributing to safer, more effective insulin use across community care settings.

Beth Kelly said: “This recognition reflects the dedication of our team to creating a safer environment for patients using insulin. By actively engaging healthcare professionals through Insulin Safety Week, we’ve raised awareness and provided the tools needed to reduce errors and enhance patient outcomes.”

Rebecca Reeve, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Sanofi and one of the award judges, praised Beth’s approach, stating, “Beth’s pre-audit work set a high standard by identifying exactly what needed to be addressed during the campaign.”

The success of ISW 2024 resonated across the UK, with over 500 sites participating this year.

Emily Mayhew, Event Manager, Insulin Safety Week, commented, “Beth and her team’s efforts highlight the importance of leadership in enhancing safety standards in diabetes care. Their work serves as a model for other healthcare providers aiming to improve the efficacy and safety of insulin use, ensuring better outcomes for patients in community settings.”

Insulin Safety Week 2024 was funded by Dexcom, embecta, GlucoRx, Medtronic, Sanofi and Ypsomed which have had no input into any arrangements or content.