Diabetes WA welcomes the West Australian Labor Party’s $10.4 million commitment to expand support services for people living with diabetes, if re-elected.
This funding would allow Diabetes WA to extend its pilot Diabetes Connect service, enabling GPs across the state to access specialist endocrinologists for immediate advice, reducing hospitalisations and ensuring faster treatment.
Diabetes is a major burden on WA hospitals, with 20-30% of beds occupied by people with the condition and many of these admissions are preventable. Current wait times for specialist hospital appointments are up to 255 days, putting patients at risk of serious complications. Diabetes Connect, launched in regional areas in late 2024, has already proven effective in reducing this risk and easing hospital demand.
Diabetes WA CEO Melanie Gates said the commitment from the Labor Party acknowledges the service’s ability to cut wait times from months to minutes.
“This funding would not only establish Diabetes Connect as a key element of diabetes care in regional Western Australia but also allow us to expand that care to every West Australian,” Ms Gates said.
This commitment means that Diabetes Connect would be accessible to GPs across the entire state, improving specialist access and expediting treatment for all West Australians living with diabetes.
“This initiative has already made a significant difference to the way regional GPs manage complex diabetes cases and, with this investment, we will be able to offer our transformative service to more healthcare professionals across the state,” Ms Gates said.
“The ability for GPs to access specialist advice on complex cases, often within minutes, without the need for a referral to the hospital, is a major leap forward in diabetes care. This funding would not only reduce wait times for patients but also ensure that all West Australians living with diabetes receive the highest quality care as close to home as possible.”
GPs who have used the service say it has improved diabetes management and patient care.
Dr Amanda Villis, Principal GP at Plantagenet Medical, Mount Barker, said GPs don’t need the basics, they need the specific, tailored advice that Diabetes WA endocrinologists can provide.
“I first used Diabetes Connect last year for some patient advice, and what made the difference was the tailored, expert advice. We don’t always need to refer to an endocrinologist, but sometimes we need an answer to a complex question quickly, like insulin management, and that’s exactly what Diabetes Connect provides.”
Dr Indi Wijegoonewardene, GP at Leonora Medical Centre, Eastern Goldfields, said Diabetes Connect was like ‘a little masterclass on the phone’.
“I was able to learn on the run about a complex patient, and it will help me with future cases as well. It’s great for my patients because they don’t have to travel, and I don’t have to spend time calling around for advice.”
Dr Ingrid Hanemaaijer, GP at Busselton Medical Practice, said the service made her practice more efficient.
“Being able to get hold of a specialist easily can make patient care far more efficient. Often, all we need is the answer to one question, and Diabetes Connect gives us that right away. This service has saved us a lot of time and frustration, and if it were available across the entire health system, it would be a huge improvement in how we provide care.”
Key points:
- The Labor Party pledge to invest $10.4 in diabetes care and support means Diabetes WA could roll out Diabetes Connect out across Western Australia, reducing wait times for outpatient hospital appointments from months to minutes and freeing up hospital beds.
- Current wait times of up to 255 days for hospital appointments means that people are at rising risk of diabetes related hospitalisations and complications.
- At any one time 20-30% of West Australian hospital beds are occupied by people living with diabetes – many of these hospitalisations are preventable.
- Diabetes Connect already provides regional GPs with direct access to endocrinology colleagues at Diabetes WA providing phone advice, multidisciplinary case conferencing and wrap around services from Diabetes WA
- The feedback from GPs in regional areas has been incredibly positive with many appreciating the ease of the service and the timely support it gives them and their patients.
For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Myke Bartlett
Marketing Manager, Diabetes WA
myke.bartlett@diabeteswa.com.au