A new resource that will benefit all pregnant diabetic women in the Isle of Man has been donated to Noble’s Hospital’s diabetes centre.
On Tuesday, The Manx Diabetic Group presented a foetal monitor – worth £6,800 – to the centre following a request from the team.
Joanne Clague, of The Manx Diabetic Group, explained that pregnancies for women with diabetes are categorised as high risk.
‘Women are seen, ideally, before they get pregnant and up to six weeks post-natal every two weeks at a joint diabetic/obstetric clinic where they are seen by a specialist diabetologist, specialist nurse, dietician, obstetrician and specialist midwife,’ she explained.
‘But the numerous growth scans of their babies and CTG (cardiotocography) monitoring had to be done on another site at a separate appointment.
‘Having a monitor in the diabetes centre means the scans can be done at the same appointment.’
She added: ‘So it’s a new resource that will benefit all diabetic pregnant women in the Isle of Man.
‘There were 35 through the service last year, which is about 3 to 4 per cent of the overall delivery rate.
‘It doesn’t sound like a lot in terms of numbers but the care for these women is highly specialised.’
The Manx Diabetic Group, formed in 1986, has bought a range of equipment for the centre.
It includes seven 24-hour blood pressure monitors, three continuous monitors, a computerised digital fundus eye camera and slit lamp and three computer review stations, one of which was for use by Ramsey and District Cottage Hospital.
In addition, the organisation, which is affiliated with Diabetes UK but is an independent entity, has made donations towards an Argon laser machine for the hospital’s eye clinic.
Earlier this year, the group celebrated the success of its campaign to wipe out a children’s waiting list for specialist diabetic insulin pumps.
Pumps 4 Kids, a joint initiative with the Manx Independent, raised more than £55,000 – well exceeding its original target of £20,000.
The diabetes centre provides multi-professional team assessment, screening, treatment and management to diabetes patients. It aims to provide a ‘one-stop approach’ to clinic attendance.
Joanne (seated) is pictured presenting the foetal monitor to diabetes centre staff Jan Clark, Sherilea O’Boyle, Dr Arutha Krishnan, Tarun Ghosh, Regan Baggley and Suzanne McVay.