19 July 2023

Millie Chatfield, a Senior Health and Wellbeing Practitioner talks about how her role helps young people with Type 1 Diabetes and shares why she feels passionate about this work.

What is your role? 

I am a Senior Health and Wellbeing Practitioner, specialising in Diabetes. I work within the Paediatric, Transition and Young Adult Diabetes services across Guy’s and St Thomas’, (including the Evelina London Children’s Hospital) and King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts (NHS FT). Working in collaboration with The Well Centre, a confidential health hub supporting 11-20-year olds with their physical, sexual and mental health. 

What do you enjoy most about your role? 

I enjoy the variety that each day brings! Whether this is in outpatient clinics, delivering workshops or group sessions and supporting children and young people 1:1 in the community. Working through a meaningful intervention with a young person and seeing them exceed their expectations, by observing a change in their self-esteem, mood and motivation to improve their health-related outcomes, is incredibly rewarding. As well as, being a part of their journey that empowers them to live a life not controlled by their diabetes. 

I have also enjoyed shaping the role of a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner within a hospital-based setting and working on the development and expansion of the Youth Empowerment Skills (YES) programme for young people aged 14-19 living with type 1 diabetes. 

What inspired you to get into this work? 

I have always been interested in physical and mental health and working with, and advocating for, children and young people. Through volunteering, university studies and various courses, I stumbled into a newly developed hybrid role that combined these, a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner!  

There are many challenges growing up as young person in the current society, particularly those with a long-term health condition, such a diabetes, those struggling with their mental health, and those who perhaps aren’t surrounded with as much support as others. We are all aware of the widespread impact of COVID-19, but I feel the effect on this cohort who received a diagnosis or experienced a significant life event during this time, show remarkable resilience. 

What are the benefits of working in partnership?  

Working between multiple hospital teams has allowed me to better understand and help to bridge the gap between paediatric and adult diabetes care. Each clinic is run by a multidisciplinary team, including a Health and Wellbeing Practitioner, who often offers an alternative perspective, centred around a holistic approach to patient care. 

Last year, the above teams, as King’s Health Partners, worked together and ran a successful pilot bid with NHSE to improve the Transition and Young Adult Diabetes services for young people aged 19-25 with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This collaboration across Guy’s and St Thomas’ and King’s College Hospital NHS FTs, aims to provide streamlined services across Lambeth and Southwark, in both hospital and community settings. We are also working in partnership with patients to help us shape this pilot, not only to provide better care for them, but for future young people. 

What would be your one career top tip to staff and students?  

Put yourself out there and network with people, be curious and ask questions, you never know where this may lead! I am grateful to be surrounded by so many inspiring clinicians, who have influenced my next career chapter. Finally, to be kind to yourself and others. 

The KHP Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Obesity teams works to improve health and wellbeing for people living with diabetes, obesity and endocrine disorders across London, south east England and beyond. Visit its webpages here.