Extension of a paediatric diabetes home care service

At the end of 1994 a paediatric diabetes specialist nurse (PDSN) was appointed to extend the paediatric diabetes home care service between the Birmingham Children's Hospital and a district general hospital (City Hospital) in Birmingham. As a result 24‐hour home care can now be offered to newly diagnosed and existing paediatric patients with diabetes at City Hospital. The initial mean HbA_1c for the clinic was 9.8%, which since then has fallen to a mean of 8.95% (range 7.9–9.4%); a mean reduction of 0.85%. As a result of home care there has been a sustained reduction in bed‐days for newly diagnosed patients (median five patients per year) and for re‐admissions of existing patients. In addition to any long‐term benefits arising from improvement in diabetic control, the cost savings of reduction in bed‐days alone at £235 per day (Total £15110 per year) outweigh the cost of the PDSN post (£14800 per year). Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.