More than €2.3m (£3.9m) of European funding was secured by a cross-border partnership to develop a cross-European approach to tackling Type 2 diabetes. The project, called 'DWELL' which finished on 31st March 2023 involved eight partners from the UK, Belgium, the Netherlands and France.
A 12-week patient support programme and a training package for staff to deliver the programme was designed by, and implemented in, all four countries represented in the partnership. Medway Community Healthcare (MCH) was one of the UK partners and delivered the programme in Medway.
The programme enabled people living with type 2 diabetes in these countries to access extensive support, empowering them to self-manage their condition and improve their wellbeing
As a result of improving the long-term health and wellbeing of people living with type 2 diabetes, it is estimated that the project will see a 30% per person reduction to state-funded health services per year -anticipated at €1.25m (£1.09m) per 1,000 patients per year.
The DWELL project was approved and funded by the EU Interreg 2 Seas Programme 2014-2020 (co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund).
The DWELL project was formally adopted in the UK onto the NiHR portfolio IRAS ID 232622. Research Ethics Committee Ref 17/LO/1480
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1-2-1 motivational conversations to help people set their goals
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Well-being activities and support to help overcome the hurdles that make change tricky.
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Information sessions about type 2 diabetes to make sure people have got the facts.
The programme was facilitated by people with extensive knowledge of diabetes to small groups of people with type 2 diabetes in a non-clinical environment conducive to adult learning. Plenty of time was allowed to share experiences, to ask questions and for laughter. Peer support was an important element and some participants went on to become DWELL Ambassadors. They supported the DWELL project in a wide range of ways.
Following the end of the funding from the European Regional Development Fund MCH was successful in securing funding to deliver DWELL for a further year in Medway and Swale. MCH is currently looking at ways to continue DWELL in Medway.
Here are some quotes from members who joined onto the programme:
