Sunday November 14 is World Diabetes Day. The number of people suffering from diabetes is increasing across the world and diabetes is now recognised as a global epidemic. There are currently about 200 million people worldwide with diabetes and this number may is predicted to increase to around 330 million by 2025. In the Department of Primary Care & Public Health at Imperial College, we have an active research, quality improvement and education programmes in diabetes. In research, we have worked with a number of our local primary care organisations to improve the prevention, early detection and treatment of diabetes. Examples of this work include QOF Plus (Hammersmith & Fulham), Vascular Risk Assessment (Ealing) and CONDUIT (Wandsworth). The department also provides primary care advice to the Diabetes Research Network.
The integration of Work Coaches (WCs) & Disability Employment Advisors (DEAs) into UK General Practice (GP) provides an innovative approach to bridging the gap between health & employment services. We now reflect on the findings of our recent study led by Shriti Patani, Lara Shemtob & Kabir Varghese in collaboration with colleagues from the Department of Primary Care and Public Health at Imperial College London. The study explored the benefits & challenges of integrating emplyment support services in primary care from the perspectives of GPs & work coaches. What’s the context? Employment is a critical social determinant of health, with unemployment linked to poorer physical & mental wellbeing & reduced quality of life. Traditionally, individuals seeking employment support access services through Jobcentres. However, barriers including stigma or lack of awareness - especially in people with disabilities or long-term health conditions -...
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