A RECENT survey of parents and carers of children with diabetes has shown that more than nine out of ten were extremely or mostly satisfied with the care their children receive at the Jenny Lind Children's Department in Norwich.

A RECENT survey of parents and carers of children with diabetes has shown that more than nine out of ten were extremely or mostly satisfied with the care their children receive at the Jenny Lind Children's Department in Norwich.

Doctors and nurses at the Jenny Lind, the paediatric department of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, sent out 153 postal questionnaires to parents and carers and had 100 surveys returned (a response rate of 62pc), which is a very good response rate.

Overall, the results were very positive. 96pc were either extremely satisfied or mostly satisfied by the medical treatment that their child receives and 97pc were either extremely satisfied or mostly satisfied by the support that they received. Only one per cent said they were not at all satisfied.

Ninety-two per cent of parents said they were extreme or mostly satisfied with the diabetes-related health education given by the Jenny Lind diabetes team and only one per cent said they were not at all satisfied.

The Jenny Lind diabetes team looks after about 350 children with diabetes and is one of the busiest children's diabetes team in the country. The Jenny Lind diabetes team is comprised of diabetes nurses, doctors and dietians and will shortly be joined by a child psychologist.

The survey has identified areas for further improvement to the service, for example, 25pc felt that the waiting time in the out-patient clinic was too long and 13pc of parents reported they could not remember reading the information leaflets produced by the team.

Other results of note were the significant number of comments expressing interest in psychological support for the children, so we are looking forward to the arrival of a child psychologist.

A number of responses indicating interest in alternative clinic times and methods of contact between the parents and the Diabetes team.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Vipan Datta said: “We are committed to making our service better, and all in all, we are very pleased with the results of the survey, but we won't rest on our laurels. Diabetes is a tough disease for a child and their family and we want to do all we can to give these children a normal, healthy life.”