Our model of care

The Camden diabetes IPU is an innovative and complex service, developed to fully integrate diabetes care across Camden.

Who is responsible for providing the care?

The Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust is the lead provider, working in partnership with Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Haverstock Healthcare.

Care has been divided into 4 tiers:


A multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals and diabetes experts works across the tiers to deliver care in primary, community and hospital settings.

A larger, multi-professional Intermediate Diabetes Service is supporting people with diabetes in community settings.

GPs, practice nurses and community nurses are provided with more support and education to increase their knowledge and confidence in diabetes management. This allows secondary care hospital teams to focus on improving in-patient care for people with diabetes.

How is it funded?

We implemented value based commissioning in 2015, which means that:

  • Providers have more freedom to decide where funding is invested based on where the need is greatest.
  • It encourages more investment earlier in the pathway in less intensive settings where this improves outcomes for patients (prevention rather than cure).
  • Providers work together to achieve outcomes which matter to patients and therefore improve outcomes and experience for patients.
  • Clinicians are responsible for a population rather than a condition thereby considering the wider needs of patients.