Children’s diabetes team to pilot life-changing technology

The children’s diabetes team at Ormskirk hospital has been chosen as one of only six in the country to pilot new life-changing diabetes care.

The team will offer children with Type 1 diabetes hybrid closed loop insulin delivery which acts like an “artificial pancreas”, automatically balancing high and low blood sugars.

It follows the team’s success being named North West winner of the excellence in healthcare award in the 2021 NHS Parliamentary Awards.

Associate Professor Dr May Ng, clinical lead for paediatric diabetes, said: “We are delighted to be one of only six paediatric centres that have been chosen by NHS England to pilot the hybrid closed loop trials. I am very proud of the work the team has put in to continuously improve the standards of diabetes care. This closed loop trial will really benefit the children and young people from Southport, Formby and West Lancashire.”

The £2m NHS England closed loop pilot coincides with the centenary of the discovery of insulin. It means that 1,000 people who live with Type 1 diabetes in England, who meet certain eligibility criteria, will be able to access this new technology on the NHS.

People with Type 1 diabetes are unable to produce their own insulin, which regulates blood sugars and instead they have to deliver insulin by injections or by an insulin pump. The amount of insulin administered has to be manually adjusted and readjusted throughout the day. Hybrid closed loop is the most advanced technology system currently available and will connect to a continuous blood glucose monitor with an insulin pump, automatically adjusting the insulin delivery, so that blood sugars are more balanced.