24 September 2026
A digital project helping patients manage their own insulin while reducing pressure on Community Nursing Teams has been shortlisted for a national award.
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust’s (RWT) Digital Insulin Pathway has been shortlisted in the Best Use of Workplace Technology category at the Nursing Times Workforce Awards 2026.
The pathway was developed after Community Nursing teams identified increasing demand from insulin-related visits, with almost 300 of around 550 daily visits involving insulin administration.
Led by Kay McLoughlin, Directorate Support Manager for Adult Community Services, the project uses digital technology to help suitable patients safely manage their own insulin, while allowing clinical teams to remotely monitor their progress.
Eligible patients are placed on a digital remote monitoring service, allowing the District Nurses team to monitor blood glucose levels remotely while providing teaching and support for patients, relatives and carers.
It also supports care home staff to administer insulin safely, helping patients become more independent and reducing the number of visits required from District Nurses.
During the 12-week pilot, ten patients joined the digital pathway, with seven successfully discharged from the District Nursing caseload. A further four patients were discharged following targeted education.
The pathway also released almost 60 hours of clinical time during the pilot, allowing District Nurses to focus on patients requiring more complex or urgent care.
Kay said: “We are incredibly proud to have been shortlisted for a Nursing Times Workforce Award. This project has been a real team effort, and it is fantastic to see everyone’s hard work recognised nationally.
“Our aim was to give suitable patients more independence while also reducing some of the pressure on our District Nursing Teams.
“Seeing patients regain the confidence to manage their own insulin safely has been incredibly rewarding, while the time saved means our Nurses have more capacity to support patients with complex needs.”