Specialist diabetes outreach clinic brings care closer to home in Griffith

From left: MPHN Primary Care Engagement Officer Alanah Christie, with Endocrinologist and Diabetes Specialist Dr Nèle Lenders and Diabetes Educator Gael Holters from St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney.

Patients in Griffith recently had the opportunity to access specialised diabetes care without leaving their community, thanks to the St Vincent’s DREAM Diabetes Outreach Clinic held at Your Health Griffith on 20 and 21 November.

The Diabetes Regional Education, Access and Management (DREAM) initiative, a collaboration between St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN), and Murrumbidgee Local Health District, has been operating in the Murrumbidgee region since February, with clinics already held in Tumut, Gundagai, Young, Hay, Adelong, Leeton, Lake Cargelligo, and West Wyalong. More than 150 diabetes patients have received personalised support through the program so far.

Dr Nèle Lenders, Endocrinologist and Diabetes Specialist from St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney, said sharing the consultation with local GPs and their patients was beneficial for everyone.

‘The specialist comes to the patient rather than the patient needing to travel to see the specialist, which can be both expensive and time consuming,’ Dr Lenders said.

‘These consultations allow us to educate GPs on the latest developments in diabetes medication and care. At the same time, we gain valuable insights from the GP about the challenges and limitations their patients face. This collaboration helps us tailor our care to suit the resources and access available locally.’

Common challenges faced by diabetes patients in the Murrumbidgee region include limited access to specialists and allied health services, such as diabetes educators, dietitians, podiatrists, optometrists, and ophthalmologists, with services are often restricted by availability, cost, and long waitlists.

During the outreach clinic, patients received tailored diabetes education from St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney’s diabetes educator Gael Holters, followed by in-depth consultations with Dr Lenders. Follow-up telehealth appointments with the DREAM Team are scheduled six months later to provide ongoing support and monitoring. The team has begun reviewing patients from earlier in the year, reporting positive outcomes, including improved overall blood glucose levels and weight management.

MPHN Acting CEO Narelle Mills praised the program’s impact.

‘The DREAM Diabetes Outreach Clinics are a great example of how we can break down barriers to specialist care for rural communities,’ Ms Mills said.

‘By empowering local clinicians and supporting patients with self-care tools and expert knowledge, we’re helping to ensure healthier futures for communities across the Murrumbidgee.’

The St Vincent’s DREAM Diabetes Outreach Clinic is made possible through the St Vincent’s Curran Foundation.