St Helens & Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

At St Helens & Knowsley trust, the diabetes team across both sites participated in Hypo Awareness Week. At each site they had a Hypo Awareness Week stand to raise awareness of hypoglycaemia and educate the staff and the public about hypos. On the stand at Whiston Hospital, they had a hypo simulator available for staff, patients and visitors to experience what it is like to have a hypoglycaemic episode. They also initiated a raffle for staff to enter free of charge, once they had completed a hypo quiz. Staff would then be provided with a copy of the answers and then provided with education as required by the DSNs and answer any questions. They also compiled an audit to spot check the hypo boxes across both sites. They were visible around the wards and provided on the spot education in regards to hypos. Some of the DSNs attended the blood glucose monitoring training that is carried out on a monthly basis, to provide further education to staff and students in attendance r.e. hypos. Hypo cards had been designed for distribution to staff, which contained details of what a hypo is, how to recognise and how to appropriately treat depending on the individual. This was to assist the medical team and staff on the wards.They also developed a hypoglycaemia SIM training session for staff to attend. These sessions were held each month as a study session for staff and students to attend to experience a hypoglycaemia scenario, which involved a live patient!! After the session, they evaluated and provided feedback to the staff/students.