The ComPASSION team, made up of the UHD diabetes team and Dorset eating disorders team from Dorset Healthcare has been awarded a commended in the Diabetes Collaborative of the Year finals of the Quality in Care Diabetes awards 2022.

The team ran a pilot scheme supporting people with type 1 diabetes and an eating disorder. They developed an integrated mental health and physical health approach to this really complex condition and were able to demonstrate significant improvements in both in physical parameters of diabetes and psychological and emotional markers.

Dr Helen Partridge, consultant in diabetes at UHD, said “We were delighted to have been recognised for the work we put into this. Working in collaboration with our mental health care team colleagues was a real opportunity to explore innovative ways of supporting people with type 1 diabetes and disordered eating. We know how much the emotion and psychology can influence the ability to manage diabetes and when working together this is a model of how we can adopt a much more holistic approach. It should be a model going forward for many health conditions and we were honoured to have attended and for the effort of the whole collaborative team to be celebrated.

 “It was also humbling to see how much fantastic work is being explored in the diabetes world across the whole UK. There was some stiff competition.”

Claire Pinder, Dietitian for the Dorset All Age Eating Disorders Service part of Dorset HealthCare, said “Working with patients who are affected by both type 1 diabetes and an eating disorder has enabled us to meet the specific needs of this patient group. It has improved their health outcomes and quality of life through providing high quality, joined up care. It is great to have this work recognised, and particularly to have the benefits to patient care of collaborative working highlighted.”

 Judges' comments: "The ComPASSION project was run brilliantly. It showed how vitally important dealing with eating disorders is, collaborating with an eating disorder patient organisation to ensure wider awareness. A great project, really nicely executed."