P-431: Improving integrated care and reducing health inequalities in children and young people with diabetes through localisation of a digital platform in North-west London
M Julian, S Mehar, D N Ray, S SmithAbstract
Introduction
Fragmentation between primary and secondary care can limit access to consistent, localised support for children and young people (CYP) with diabetes. Digital platforms offer an opportunity to improve integration and self-management; however, lack of localised content may widen health inequalities and reduce relevance for diverse communities.
Objectives
To bridge primary and secondary care by localising the DigiBete app (“My Clinic”) with clinic-specific and community resources, improving engagement, self-management, and access to local services across Ealing and Harrow, a highly diverse population in North West London.
Methods
A six-month quality improvement project was conducted across Ealing and Northwick Park paediatric diabetes services in collaboration with DigiBete. The app, routinely used in patient care, was enhanced through a personalised “My Clinic” portal populated with local resources, including exercise programmes, Parkrun, youth services, healthy eating initiatives, and food bank information via trusted links. Training was delivered through digital tutorials with on-demand support. App usage data (April 2025–January 2026) were analysed.
Results
App usage increased across all sites: Ealing paediatrics (58 to 100 users), Northwick Park (194 to 254), and West London (10 to 92), demonstrating strong adoption and spread. Localisation improved 24/7 access to relevant information and reduced repetitive clinical queries, supporting improved workflow efficiency.
Conclusions
Localising a digital diabetes platform is a feasible and scalable approach to improving integration between primary and secondary care. It enhances engagement, accessibility, and clinical efficiency, while supporting self-management and reducing health inequalities. A training video has been developed to support wider rollout, enabling other clinics to embed this model within their services. Wider adoption has the potential to further improve outcomes for CYP with diabetes.