6 November 2026
A Wolverhampton patient has spoken about how a new digital service is helping him manage his insulin and feel more independent.
The Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust Digital Insulin Pathway supports suitable patients to manage their own insulin safely, with teaching and support from the Community Nursing Team and remote monitoring of their blood glucose levels.
Graham Rathbone, from Wolverhampton, was admitted to hospital in April 2026 with a kidney infection, which developed into sepsis. Sadly, complications meant his left leg had to be amputated. During his hospital stay, Graham was also started on insulin.
The 61-year-old said: “I got started on the programme and have now been using it for around two weeks. It has been great. I can monitor everything myself, and the app that I use to input everything is really easy.
“I feel much more independent, and I am really thankful to be able to use this.”
The service was developed after Community Nursing teams identified increasing demand for insulin-related visits, with almost 300 of around 550 daily visits involving insulin administration.
By helping suitable patients build the confidence and skills to manage their own insulin, the service aims to support greater independence while reducing the need for routine nursing visits.
During a 12-week pilot, ten patients joined the digital service, with seven successfully discharged from the District Nursing caseload. A further four patients were discharged following targeted education.
The pilot also released almost 60 hours of clinical time, allowing District Nurses to focus on patients who need more complex or urgent care.
Kay McLoughlin, Directorate Support Manager for Adult Community Services, said: “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.”