New Cromer clinic for children with diabetes

A new specialist out-patient clinic designed to provide a closer-to-home service for children with diabetes and endocrine problems has been set up at Cromer and District Hospital.

In Norfolk there are currently 375 children with diabetes who need to attend hospital frequently for check-ups (three or four times a year on average). For those who live in North Norfolk, a trip to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital often means missing a whole day of school – and perhaps a whole day of work, too, for their mums or dads.

Running a diabetes clinic is a team effort, involving diabetes consultants Dr Nandu Thalange and Dr. Vipan Datta, specialist nurses Gill Ward and Debbie Upton, and dietitian Lucy Findlay, as well as the nursing and clerical staff in Cromer out-patients.

Dr Thalange commented: “Cromer and District Hospital is a great place to see children. We have all the facilities we need – X-rays, scanning, blood tests, retinal photography – and we have the sea air thrown in! I think it will make a big difference to North Norfolk families to be able to come and see us at Cromer, rather than having to trudge down to Norwich.”

Children with hormone, growth and other endocrine problems are also being seen in the clinic, making the most of the specialist expertise available.

Thanks to the support of Cromer's charitable funds, some minor works have been carried out at the hospital to provide a dedicated waiting area for the children.

A donation from North Norfolk Diabetes UK has also enabled the team to provide on-the-spot measurement of diabetes control using a portable analyser.

Note to editors: The new clinic runs on the third Friday of each month – the next one will be on Friday 16 March.