Diabetes consultant survey launches

Diabetes and endocrine consultants across the UK are being encouraged to take part in a survey about their work.

The Diabetes Workforce Audit aims to find out where Britain’s diabetes and endocrine consultants work and the type of job plan they have. Each consultant will receive a personalised link via email from November 18 and they will have until January 31 to complete it.

The data will be used to inform workforce planning for the future and also highlights where there are current gaps, what consultants do on a daily basis, the proportion of their time they spend on general medicine, specialty work, education and management.

There is also a push to get more responses from consultants in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland to ensure a wider representation.

Organiser Dr Stella George, who is a consultant in diabetes and endocrinology at East & North Hertfordshire NHS Trust, said: “I will be presenting the results of last years survey at the ABCD conference in December so I would encourage people to join us at the conference to find out more.

“This year we asked about clinic templates for the first time. We are also hoping to find out more information about how much time each patient os allocated in clinics and whether clinicians felt they had adequate time with their patients.”

Previously a paper survey was sent to all identified consultants, asking demographic questions, details about their job plan and if any new colleagues have joined their department. This has enabled the ability to track new appointees and any consultants that have moved trusts. Now the online version will make it easier to disseminate the questions.

The data collection will continue to be performed using the existing infrastructure available at the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) workforce unit, allowing a quick transfer of the survey onto an online platform.

The project has been commissioned as a joint venture between the Association of British Clinical Diabetologists (ABCD), Diabetes UK, the Society for Endocrinology and the Royal College of Physicians(RCP).

To sign up to attend the ABCD conference, click here.

To take part, or for more information, email stellageorge@nhs.net.