GPs are now referring people with complicated type 2 diabetes to an integrated care hub in the community for specialist diabetes care as part of a new HSE service that aims to provide person-centred care for patients closer to home.

This reduces patients being referred to an acute hospital for a scheduled care review. It’s anticipated this will reduce referrals to EDs. One of the supports available is the DISCOVER diabetes programme.

This group-structured education programme is available in the care hubs and is free to all people with type 2 diabetes.

Supported by both the Enhanced Community Care programme and modernised care pathways, the service is already having a positive impact on waiting lists, according to the HSE, which said that Connolly Hospital saw a 58% decrease in its outpatient waiting list for new patients with type 2 diabetes, down from 262 in February to 110 in June this year.