PATIENTS in Worcestershire with diabetes are to be given insulin by healthcare assistants rather than district nurses following a successful pilot.

Following a national increase in the amount of patients with the condition along with a rise in the amount of mistakes made in administering insulin, a pilot scheme was introduced at a number of sites run by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust last summer in which healthcare workers administered the medicine rather than district nurses, who are already extremely busy.

The scheme proved so successful it is now being introduced across the county and the trust, which runs community and mental health services throughout Worcestershire, is putting plans in place to get it underway in the county.

The trust’s director of quality Sandra Brennan said: “Patients really like it because healthcare assistant are able to spend more time with them than district nurses can.

“It’s been really successful."

The scheme will be audited after six months to determine whether it should be continued.