FREE Hospital Passport

Launch of Hospital Passports

Following the release of information about the numbers of people with diabetes in hospital at any one time and the problems that can occur, IDDT has launched the Hospital Passport. This will help people with diabetes when they go into hospital by providing vital Information about their diabetes and how they manage their treatment. It also enables people to include information about all their medicines, their mealtimes, diet and any allergies.

We hope that people with diabetes will be able to take the opportunity of using the Hospital Passport whenever they are admitted to Hospital and that health professionals will give them to their patients.

IDDT receives many calls from people who have experienced difficulties while in hospital. The reasons for this are numerous but often it can be the change in mealtimes, restricted access to medication and food as well as the general stress of being unwell and away from their family and friends.

The latest National Diabetes Inpatient Audit [NaDIA] report published on May 17th 2012 shows that nearly one in three hospital patients with diabetes are affected by medication errors. This is a small improvement on last year. The audit examined bedside data for 12,800 patients and 6600 patient questionnaires, covering subjects including medication errors and patient harm over a seven day period in October 2011. It involved 11,900 patients in 212 English hospitals and 900 patients in 18 Welsh hospitals.

During the seven day audit period hospitals in England and Wales made at least one medication error in the treatment of 3700 inpatients. 32.4 per cent of patients (3,430) experienced at least one medication error in the previous seven days of their hospital stay. Patients with errors suffered with:

  • More than double the number of hypos [low blood sugars] compared to people with errors.
  • 65 patients developed ketoacidosis [DKA] during their hospital stay. This worse than last year when the number was 44. DKA occurs when blood glucose levels are consistently high which suggests that insulin treatment was not given for a significant period of time.

These figures highlight the need for greater support for people when they are admitted to hospital. The Hospital Passport provides essential information for hospital staff and will help them treat the patient immediately and effectively, minimising any further harm.

For copies of the FREE Hospital Passport e-mail martin@iddtinternational.org or phone IDDT on 01604 622837 or write to IDDT, PO Box 294, Northampton NN1 4XS.