NNUH’s first Diabetes Consultant Nurse appointed

A senior nurse has spoken of her delight after being appointed as the first Diabetes Consultant Nurse at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (NNUH).

Maggie Heels joined the hospital in 1987 and has more than 25 years’ experience as a diabetes specialist nurse.

Maggie Heels, who is NNUH’s first Diabetes Consultant Nurse

Maggie, who is currently Senior Diabetes Nurse Facilitator at NNUH, added that her new role would also involve developing the strategy and commissioning for diabetes services in Central Norfolk.

She said: “I am looking forward to starting the new job. I feel that my hard work and dedication and my master’s degree are being utilised to their full potential. This will raise the profile of specialist diabetes nursing in Norfolk.”

Professor Jeremy Turner, Service Director for diabetes and endocrinology at NNUH said: “We are delighted to have appointed a Diabetes Consultant Nurse as part of our strategy to improve the quality and range of services for people with diabetes in Norfolk. In particular this appointment will help us to work more closely and productively with diabetes services in primary care.

“Maggie’s expertise, leadership, passion for diabetes and drive will help us to bring the best possible care to all with diabetes in Norfolk who need it.”

Professor Mike Sampson, from the Elsie Bertram Diabetes Centre, added: “This is great news, and it has taken Maggie nearly 20 years to grow our intermediate diabetes service so that it now covers 72 Norfolk general practices, and this has been supplemented recently by our NHS England funded consultant outreach model, now covering 40 practices. This post will be central to all these developments.”