Major contributions to children's diabetes care sees colleague 'overwhelmed' by national honour
A UHDB dietitian who supports toddlers and children following a life-changing diabetes diagnosis has reflected on how every patient she has worked with "has inspired me to be a better dietitian" after she received a national honour, recognising her significant impact on care for children with diabetes across our communities.
Wendy Barber, Operational Lead for Dietetics, was recently awarded the Edith Elliot Honour by the British Dietetic Association - an accolade that recognises individuals who have made "a significant contribution to the profession at local, regional, speciality level or in a diverse area of practice".
In her previous role as a Children's Specialist Diabetes Dietitian, Wendy was involved in the Paediatric Diabetes Service's rollout of the insulin pump start programme, an approach which is empowering young patients and their families to be able to manage their condition, while clearing the department's waiting list in the space of a year after the design of a new training programme.
Wendy has also played a crucial role in the development of local and national diabetes competency frameworks and patient resources, supporting dietitians in the field of diabetes, and improving patient experience.
Alongside the wider dietetic team, Wendy is now supporting with ongoing improvement projects including improved use of technology in consultations and updating referral guidelines for dietetics with system partners, as well as work in supporting the Trust to recognise malnutrition more accurately in admitted inpatients.
Explaining how it felt to receive the Edith Elliott Honour, alongside other national colleagues at the recent awards event, Wendy said: "It was overwhelming, especially when hearing all of the other fantastic achievements by dietitians nationally. Dietitians and AHPs (Allied Health Professionals) at this Trust in particular take huge pride in our work - we are lynchpins in many services, driving quality, evidence-based practice and high standards of patient experience.
"Every patient I have worked alongside with a diagnosis of diabetes, from toddlers to teenagers, has inspired me to be a better dietitian. Their resilience, determination, tolerance and effort are second to none, and it has been a privilege to be part of their diagnosis and lives thereafter. By working alongside them and their families, I have been able to give guidance and direction to achieve success in managing their condition - they have inspired me to be part of many initiatives, including striving for equitable access to care and technology across the country.
"I hope that the inspiration they have given me will migrate over to the teams I now manage, and we can work to deliver change in other clinical areas. It's so important to get involved in conversations, participate in quality improvement projects and learn from your peers. There's no need to reinvent the wheel, but keep quality and improvement at the forefront."
Seema Rughani, Allied Health Professionals and Healthcare Scientists Workforce Lead, explained how Wendy and colleagues are helping drive improvements for all young people receiving diabetes care across our communities.
"This national recognition is thoroughly deserved, and I'm delighted for Wendy. She and her team have been instrumental in driving innovation and improving access to diabetes care, ensuring better outcomes for children and their families," she said.
"She never loses sight of what matters most - the children and families that our services support, and her influence extends beyond her clinical practice, shaping services and improving care for patients locally at UHDB and nationally. We are incredibly proud to see her contributions recognised through this prestigious honour."