Diabetes and endocrinology

We sincerely hope you and your family are staying safe and well. Please ensure that you have read the Government’s guidance on social distancing and shielding which can be found here.

Even if you are entirely well and have no health problems, please ensure that you are taking the following steps:

• Please wash you hands with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds regularly throughout the day and after returning home, being outside the house or in contact with others
• Cough or sneeze either into a tissue and dispose of it in a waste bin, or into the crook of your elbow to avoid spreading droplets in the air
• Avoid touching your eyes, face and mouth and avoid contact with anyone who is unwell

This advice is of particular importance to both adults and children with any underlying diabetic and endocrine conditions.

There are a number of diabetic and endocrine conditions which can make you especially vulnerable during this global pandemic. Further information for people living with underlying diabetic and endocrine conditions can be found as per the below:

Diabetes: www.diabetes.org.uk/about_us/news/coronavirus
Pituitary disease: https://pituitary.org.uk/news/2020/03/coronavirus-advice/ 
Addison’s disease: www.addisonsdisease.org.uk/news/novel-coronavirus-covid-19

Specific guidance regarding groups of people who would be at a very high risk of coronavirus infection has been issued, including those who should be shielding completely for the next 3 months has been issued. Guidance regarding support for those shielding can be found here.

Outpatient Clinic Appointments

We are advising all patients with existing appointments that these will be largely conducted by telephone or virtually (using the internet and a video link). If you have an appointment in the next three months it is highly unlikely that we will see you face to face for this appointment unless specifically contacted and asked to do so, as we do not want to cause undue risks to your health.  In relation to antenatal diabetic clinics and diabetic foot clinics please note the following:

• Antenatal diabetic clinics – will continue to run, both face-to-face and as telephone consultations; you will be advised accordingly and should have contact details for the team in your patient held care record
• Diabetic foot clinics – will continue to run, face-to-face; please attend your appointment as usual unless advised otherwise by a member of the team

If you have not heard from us regarding your appointment, then please call before attending on the following numbers:

Royal Sussex County Hospital:     01273 523107/6

Princess Royal Hospital:               01444 441 881 ext 5942

The secretarial team can be contacted on email: bsuh.diabetesendocrinemedsecs@nhs.net

RSCH diabetes team email: bsu-tr.diabetesbsuh@nhs.net

PRH diabetes team email: bsuh.diabetesnurses.prh@nhs.net

The endocrine nurse specialists’ email: bsuh.ens@nhs.net

Please be patient as we are receiving a high volume of calls at present. As such, we are unable to answer individual calls or emails regarding guidance on shielding, social distancing and Covid-19.

Thank you in anticipation for your understanding.