Whilst type 1 diabetes cannot be prevented, type 2 diabetes is largely preventable through lifestyle changes. Around nine out of 10 people with diabetes have type 2 and there are currently two million people in England at high risk of developing type 2 diabetes, which is a leading cause of preventable sight loss in people of working age and is a major contributor to kidney failure, heart attack, and stroke. For people living with type 2 diabetes, the risk of dying in hospital with COVID-19 is also twice that of people who don’t have the condition.

The Healthier You NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme (NDPP), also known as the Healthier You programme, identifies people at risk of developing type 2 diabetes and refers them onto a nine-month, evidence-based lifestyle change programme. The programme is available both as a face-to-face group service and as a digital service. When referred into the programme, participants are free to choose between the two. 

The number of referrals into the programme declined during the COVID-19 pandemic and an intervention was required to address this. The North West Coast Clinical Network created an NDPP toolkit for GP practices to increase referrals into the programme and support recovery from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. A one stop shop which includes, referral information, example letters, leaflets and case studies. This is being shared with GP Practices in conjunction with a coordinated funding support scheme across the Cheshire and Merseyside ICB and the Lancashire and South Cumbria ICB.

Learning outcomes:

• Supporting referrals from large patient cohorts and alleviating pressure on Primary Care
• Highlighting the impact of coordinated enhancement
• Facilitating Primary Care and Provider coordination
• Developing a one stop toolkit for Health Care Professionals