Jersey Diabetes Service staffing (FOI)

​Request

As a result of approval within in the States Budget in 2021, the staff number for the Diabetes Service, including that of dietitians and podiatry staff was increased. This followed a review of posts undertaken by Health and Community Services (HCS), following a request by the charity Diabetes Jersey, [personal details redacted].

Following this approved increase in staff, please confirm:

The number of staff employed at the Diabetes Service, excluding secretarial, but including consultants, nurses, health care assistants, podiatrists, dietitians.

A

The number of such posts as at 1 September 2024.

B

Confirmation that the overall allocated posts have not been reduced or withdrawn since the said increase in staff numbers to perform the actual roles so approved.

C

That as part of the current HCS requirement to reduce costs, the number of posts has not been reduced and that in the case where, on 1 June 2024 that positions were not filled or remained vacant within the Service, they have not been withdrawn either on a temporary or full time basis. 

D

To confirm if, as part of the current savings to HCS, there has been, or will there, be any cuts to the ongoing provision of Pumps, CGMs and Libre technology systems to support insulin dependent patients and those other patients with diabetes having complications.

E

Please, also confirm that funds will continue to be made available for essential training of staff, but at such a level that CPD, where required is maintained rather than HCS to rely on Diabetes Jersey to continue doing so' for such core elements that are essential to run the Service and should be provided by Government.

F

To confirm that the already approved Diabetes Strategy (to include the management and care pathway for those diagnosed) and Patient Survey are both completed by no later than 31 December 2025.

Response

A to C

​The Diabetes service is staffed as follows:

• 2 Consultants
• 6 Nurses for adult service users
• 2 Paediatric Nurses
• 1 Health Care Assistant

Staffing levels have not changed or been reduced since 1 June 2024, and remain as they were following the review of posts and funded establishment of 2021.

Podiatry and Dietetics are separate services. The provision for diabetic patients are is detailed below:

Podiatry

• Clinical Lead Podiatrist – Ranges from 70% to 100% activity within Diabetes service, depending on clinical demand and staff leave / absence.
• Diabetes Specialist Podiatrist – 90% of worktime dedicated to Diabetes service.
• Specialist Podiatrist – 40% of worktime dedicated to Diabetes service.
• Diabetes Podiatry Assistant – 100% of worktime dedicated to Diabetes service.

Dietetics

The clinical provision for Dietetics has increased from one Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) throughout 2021 to 2.67 FTE clinical staff and 0.33 FTE administrative staff in 2024:

• Specialist Diabetes Dietitian
  
• Senior Diabetes Dietitian (recruitment underway and awaiting start date)
• Dietetic Assistant Practitioner 
• Administrative and secretarial support for the Diabetes clinicians

In addition to the above, the Dietetic service provides input to diabetic patients on the acute hospital wards and in nursing homes.

D

There is no intention to make cuts to the ongoing provision of pumps, continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) and Libre technology systems as part of the current programme to reduce costs and identify savings within Health and Community Services.

E

The question is a request for comment and assurance on future provision. Freedom of Information is a mechanism to enable access to information held in recorded form by a Scheduled Public Authority, rather than to pose questions requiring comment or opinion. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

However, Health and Community Services are committed to ensuring that staff continue to have access to the training required with the provision of funds. 

Training for Podiatry is not funded through Diabetes. Much of the training for this service is completed in-house and through self-guided continuous professional development (CPD).

F

The question is a request for comment and assurance or speculation on a future outcome. As noted above, Freedom of Information is a mechanism to enable access to information held in recorded form by a Scheduled Public Authority, rather than to pose questions requiring comment or opinion. Information is not held by HCS to satisfy the question posed. Therefore, Article 3 of the Freedom of Information (Jersey) Law 2011 applies.

Article applied

Article 3 - Meaning of “information held by a public authority”

For the purposes of this Law, information is held by a public authority if –

(a)     it is held by the authority, otherwise than on behalf of another person; or

(b)     it is held by another person on behalf of the authority.​