Patient care
We are committed to improving pathways of care and ensuring our patients and the communities we serve have access to excellent services that address both their mental and physical health needs.
We provide a comprehensive range of services. For example, our programme supporting those with obesity spans from community-based education and psychological interventions to cutting-edge metabolic surgery as a treatment.
Our achievements in improving patients care include:
First of its kind; Type 1 diabetes and disordered eating service
We are delivering the first Type 1 diabetes and disordered eating (T1DE) service, which combines diabetes and mental health care for patients across London. Through this NHS England funded pilot, we are aiming to demonstrate the efficacy of this model which can be rolled out nationally. More than 45 people have currently taken part in this service with the caseload increasing to 70 patients over 2021/22. Early findings indicate that health outcomes for patients participating in the service are improving and utilisation of unscheduled services are decreasing.
Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Network
Disease of the foot can affect people with diabetes and without proper foot care can involve infection, ulceration, tissue problems and even amputation – affecting patients not just physically but mentally, socially and economically. We have established a Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Network across south east London, to ensure patients are seen by a specialist immediately after referral. The aim of the project is to significantly reduce amputation rates, which is often caused by delayed access to specialist services.
Transforming obesity pathways of care
The Institute is working in partnership with NHS South East London Clinical Commisioning Group to conduct a comprehensive review of the obesity pathway of care (the best practice treatment journey of a patient with obesity), with a view to expanding access to the latest and most effective treatments for patients regardless of who they are or where they receive treatment, leading to improved patient outcomes and experience.
Supporting the eradication of weight stigma
According to the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Obesity, 88% of people with obesity reported having been stigmatised, criticised or abused as a direct result. We have supported the development of an International Consensus Statement and Pledge to Eradicate Weight Stigma, spearheaded by Prof Francesco Rubino with many others including the World Obesity Federation, Diabetes UK, and The Obesity Society, building on evidence that weight stigma is pervasive in all parts of society. This work seeks to improve the experience of patients with obesity, or who are overweight, and lead to improve health outcomes.
Centre for reference for type 1 diabetes
King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is recognised as a key centre of reference for type 1 diabetes, with expertise in hypoglycaemia. The Trust’s Diabetes, Psychiatry and Psychology award-winning service provides assessment and interventions for people experiencing mental health problems and diabetes distress and has received international recognition.
Up! Up! Weight management service
We are supporting a new programme specifically tailored for people of Black, African, and Caribbean heritage.Up! Up! Living lighter the African and Caribbean way, is delivered over 12 weeks and focuses on physical activity, nutrition coaching, and cooking workshops. Find out more here.
Our plans
Over the coming years, we will increase our focus on improving the quality of care for people living with obesity, diabetes and endocrine disorders receive and ensuring our patients are at the centre of everything we do, and their views and experiences inform our work. We will further integrate physical and mental health, optimise pathways, develop new patient-centred models of care, and improve access to, and the efficacy of, digital technology. We will increase focus on prevention and self-management and reducing the effect of health inequalities on access and outcomes.
To achieve this, we will work more closely still with our partners, service users and colleagues across the integrated care and academic health science network.
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To get in touch with the Institute and learn more about our work, please email IDEO@kcl.ac.uk.