Life-changing diabetes technology transforming care for children and young people in Cheshire and Merseyside
Monday, 8 June 2026
Children and young people living with Type 1 diabetes in Cheshire and Merseyside are experiencing life-changing improvements to their daily lives, thanks to the rollout of advanced diabetes technology at hospital sites across the region.
The technology has dramatically reduced the day-to-day burden of living with diabetes. Children are experiencing fewer instances of high and low blood sugar levels, better sleep, and greater confidence at school and during activities. Parents and carers are also feeling the benefits, with less need for overnight checks and reduced anxiety about managing their child’s condition.
One young patient said:
“When I got diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, I hated it. I would always have to get injections, which I really hated because I felt singled out. I have been on a pump for 6 months now and it’s changed my life completely. I can now have a normal life like my friends and take insulin easily. I feel like I can be a child again now.”
The increased usage of the Hybrid closed loop (HCL) systems at Arrowe Park Hospital (Wirral University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust), Warrington Hospital (North Cheshire and Mersey NHS Foundation Trust) and Whiston Hospital (Mersey and West Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) is helping hundreds of children and families better manage their condition with less disruption, less anxiety and greater independence.
HCL systems use continuous glucose monitoring, an insulin pump and a smart algorithm to automatically adjust insulin levels throughout the day and night. While patients still input information at mealtimes, much of the constant monitoring and decision-making is handled by the system.
Uptake of insulin pump therapy and HCL systems increased significantly across the three hospital sites following a pilot funded by NHS England and Beyond, NHS Cheshire and Merseyside’s Children and Young People’s Transformation Programme. This was launched in response to national paediatric diabetes audit data, which consistently showed that children living in areas of deprivation were far less likely to access diabetes technology, despite strong evidence that such technologies can significantly improve outcomes and quality of life.
Between 2022 and 2024, the pilot increased access to diabetes technology by providing additional clinical capacity, targeted education and multidisciplinary support across participating sites. During this period, 309 patients were supported onto new diabetes technology. Across all three sites, a high proportion of beneficiaries were from some of the most deprived areas in the country – 65% at Arrowe Park, 49% at Whiston, and 42% at Warrington and Halton – confirming that the project successfully reached its intended population. Those commencing HCL systems saw an average 7.5% increase in time spent in the target glucose range and a 10% reduction in average blood sugar levels overall within three months of starting pump therapy.
Since the conclusion of the pilot, the three trusts have maintained strong momentum in delivering NHS England’s five-year national HCL implementation strategy for children and young people, and are now leading the North West region for delivering the best outcomes for patients, as measured by average blood sugar levels.
Improved blood sugar control in childhood is critical in reducing the risk of long-term complications such as kidney failure, blindness, cardiovascular disease, diabetic ketoacidosis, and premature mortality. By intervening early and improving control in the most disadvantaged groups, the programme has contributed to increasing healthy life expectancy and reducing future demand on acute and specialist services.
Dr Fiona Lemmens, Executive Clinical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:
“This is just one of the ways we are delivering the NHS 10 Year Plan’s ambition to shift from analogue to digital. By embracing innovative technologies like hybrid closed loop systems, we are transforming how care is delivered – making it more personalised and responsive.
“The impact of this technology on children and families cannot be overstated. We are seeing young people who feel more confident, more independent, and far less defined by their condition, all the while reducing the risk of long-term complications and future demand for NHS services.”