TECHNOLOGY could soon become a more regular feature of Swindon diabetes clinics.

It comes after Mel Curtis, a specialist nurse at Great Western Hospital, was picked as one of charity Diabetes UK’s new clinical champions.

Mel has worked for the past 10 years in Swindon. As senior diabetes sister at GWH she leads the hospital’s nursing team supporting those diagnosed with the life-changing condition.

She said she wanted to use her stint as a clinical champion to improve the use of technology in diabetes clinics, hoping to allow patients who need regular contact with the hospital nurses to be able to do that virtually.

“My main focus will be improving patient and clinician access to available technologies that support and improve diabetes management,” Mel said.

“I also hope to improve contact with the hospital diabetes team inside and outside the acute hospital setting.”

Mel is one of 85 Diabetes UK clinical champions. The leadership programme is aimed at developing new ways to support diabetes patients.

Annika Palmer, Diabetes UK south west regional head, said: “Diabetes is the most devastating and fastest-growing health crisis of our time, and now affects 4.6 million people across the UK. That’s more than cancer and dementia combined – and more than any other serious health condition in the UK.

“Investing in diabetes care in this way will help reduce serious complications, and in turn reduce the devastating personal – and economic – costs that can result from poor management of the condition.

“Champions like Mel Curtis play a critical role in improving the services people with diabetes receive. They contribute massively to our vision of creating a world where diabetes can do no harm.”