Humber Health Partnership wins national Hypo Awareness Week Excellence Award
Hull University Teaching Hospitals, part of Humber Health Partnership, has been announced the winner of the Hypo Awareness Week Excellence Award, part of the QiC Diabetes awards programme.
This prestigious national award recognises the hospital’s innovative and collaborative approach to educating healthcare professionals on the importance of recognising and managing hypoglycaemia, a critical component of diabetes care.
Staff took a unique, multidisciplinary approach, utilising a variety of activities starting with an interactive workshop on hypoglycaemia identification and management, followed by Diabetic Specialist Nurses, Clinical Nurse Educators, and Practice Development Nurses, “walking the wards,” providing hands-on training to staff on-site.
They also introduced an accessible “educational padlet” where colleagues could access training resources anytime, along with the “Minute for Medicine” tool, a concise, voiced-over resource focused on hypoglycaemia education. This effort successfully reached and trained 862 healthcare professionals.
In addition, staff integrated technology into their campaign by using virtual reality goggles, allowing colleagues to experience the symptoms of a hypoglycaemic episode first-hand. This innovative approach brought a deeper level of empathy and understanding to their training.
Victoria Needler, Practice Development Matron based at Hull Royal Infirmary who spear-headed the initiative expressed her gratitude for the award, saying, “Our team’s commitment to hypoglycaemia awareness is about empowering every staff member to respond effectively to hypoglycaemic events. This award highlights our dedication to patient safety and excellence in diabetes care.”
Rebecca Reeve, Head of Strategic Partnerships at Sanofi and one of the award judges, commended Victoria’s comprehensive strategy, noting, “Hull University Teaching Hospitals entry was impressive for its depth and innovation”.
This year’s Hypo Awareness Week saw 576 healthcare sites across the UK and Ireland participate, promoting best practices and enhancing understanding of hypoglycaemia among healthcare teams.
Emily Mayhew, Event Manager, Hypo Awareness Week, said: “The dedication shown by healthcare providers across the country was inspiring. Victoria’s work stands out as a shining example of the difference we can make through education and collaboration.”
Hypo Awareness Week 2024 has been funded by Sanofi, embecta and GlucoRx, who have had no input into any arrangements or content.