Revised JBDS hospital recommendations published

New guidance on discharge planning for people with diabetes who have been admitted to hospital is now available to access.

Entitled ‘Discharge planning for adults with diabetes’, the guideline has been updated by the Joint British Diabetes Societies for Inpatient Care (JBDS-IP) to enhance care standards.

In addition, the guidance outlines how inpatient staff can meet the needs of people with diabetes who are admitted to hospital.

First author Esther Walden, of Diabetes UK and former Diabetes Specialist Nurse and Chair of the Diabetes Inpatient Specialist Nurse UK Group said: “Almost one fifth of hospital beds in England and Wales are occupied up by people with diabetes.

“Poor discharge planning can lead to poorer outcomes and increased rates of readmission for people with diabetes.”

She added: “Therefore, it is essential that the discharge process is well planned, documented, and communicated and is made in agreement with the person with diabetes and their carers.”

The updates to the guideline include:

• The appendices now include general information on frailty.
• The classification of discharges now reflects current government discharge pathways, including the discharge to assess model.
• A section on special circumstances has been included.
• Where required, links to other JBDS guidelines that may be pertinent have been added.

According to the new guidance, when selecting a glycaemic management plan for discharge, it is important to take into account an individual’s ability to self-manage, their functional status and comorbidity profile.

The report also advises that discharge plans for those who are discharged to care homes should be agreed between all stakeholders, such as community nursing, primary care and the care provider.

Additionally, the authors have stated that discharge planning should incorporate all of the individual’s needs, not just diabetes.

Fellow author, Professor Ketan Dhatariya, Consultant in Diabetes and Endocrinology at Norfold and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, added: “This latest publication adds to the growing armamentarium of revised JBDS guidelines that we hope diabetes teams, and others, will find useful.”

Hospital multidisciplinary Diabetes Specialist Teams (DST), all medical and nursing staff, allied healthcare professionals looking after people with diabetes in hospital and all members of the community diabetes care provider team can now access the guideline.

To read the guideline, click here.

Photo by Igor Vershinsky