Table 7 Summary data of the (Type 2) diabetes related functional and structural characteristics of the practices

Dedicated diabetes clinic

71 practices

Frequency; duration

43, weekly; 14, monthly; 14, n/r*; 1 to 2 half-day sessions

Appointment length

Most frequently 20 to 30 mins

Who leads management?

16, doctor; 49, nurse; 6, co-managed by doctor and nurse

Admin support

29, dedicated member of admin team; 37, general admin team, 1, none; 4, n/r

Doctor available (if required) at clinic

69, diabetes lead doctor; 30, Patient's own or duty doctor

Other staff available at clinic

9, Diabetes specialist nurse; 16, dietician

Seen in routine appointments

28 practices

Appointment length

Most frequently 20 ro 30mins

Who leads management?

8, doctor; 19, nurse; 1, co-managed by doctor and nurse

Admin support

11, dedicated member of admin team; 13, general admin team' 4, n/r

General management of patients

Routine recall interval

61, annual review; 34, 6-month review; 4, 3-month review

Who organizes recall?

58, admin support; 36, nurse; 5, GP

Blood tests

77, done in advance; 22, done on day of visit

Patient sees doctor routinely at review

43, always for Annual review; 56, only 'if indicated' for any review

Insulin initiation

50, in-house (16 by doctor, 26 by practice nurse, 6 by DSN**; 2, n/r); 49, in Secondary Care only

Patients on insulin managed in practice

60, yes, only if stable on insulin; 39, secondary care only

Foot inspection

58, in-house; 17, referred to podiatry services; 24, not reported

Use of guidelines for diabetes

53, both national (most frequently NICE***) and local guidelines; 33, national guidelines only; 9, local guidelines only; 4, do not use guidelines

Patient education

Availability of Structured Patient Education Programme

25, secondary care; 37, primary care; 4, location not specified. 33, no structured programme available

Practice provision of patient education

26, provide 'in-house' education only; 73, refer patients for external education: 36, 'structured programme' (most commonly DESMOND); 37, refer to locally developed educational sessions.

Who provides in-house education

75, nurse-led; 5, doctor-led; 19, shared

Materials

55, use in-house leaflets; 68, use DUK**** leaflets; 11, use PCT leaflets.

39, refer patients to DUK website; 5, refer patients to local website; 6, refer patients to in-house website

Management aids

Diaries

67, use patient diaries; 20, do not use diaries;12, n/r

Blood testing kits

40, use with all patients/patients who request kits; 20, use only with patients on insulin; 9, do not use; 24, n/r

Urine testing kits

21, use with all patients/patients who request kits; 5, use only with patients on insulin; 41, do not use; 32, n/r

Access to specialist support services outside of the practice

Diabetes Specialist Nurse

53, via secondary care; 28, primary care; 18, n/a*****

GPwSI (in Diabetes)

6, via secondary care; 14, primary care; 79, n/a

Dietician

40, via secondary care; 17, primary care; 42, n/a

Podiatrist

32, via secondary care; 30, primary care; 37, n/a

Retinal Screening

29, via secondary care; 36, primary care; 34, n/a

Diabetes Centre in Secondary Care

23, available to consult for advice

Specialist Diabetologist

44, available to consult for advice