One Wagga nurse has been recognised for his "outstanding" work in the diabetes sector, dedicating his career to improving health outcomes for children across the Riverina.
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Wagga Base Hospital's diabetes educator and clinical nurse specialist Mark Taylor is thrilled to have been named the regional winner of the Michelle Beets Award for Inspirational Paediatric Care.
He has been a diabetes educator for 20 years now, working with the Murrumbidgee Local Health District for the last four years.
Recently, he and his team established a clinic where children with Type 1 diabetes and their families can access care via a "one stop shop" approach.
Mr Taylor said there was a real need for this across the Riverina.
"We're seeing increasing numbers in Type 1 diabetes, but what we're also seeing is some children [with the condition] regularly presenting to hospital," he said.
The clinic is somewhere children and their families can go on a regular basis for care, not just to see a diabetes educator but also a paediatrician, dietician and even a counsellor if need be.
There are around 50 families that access the clinic on a regular basis.
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Mr Taylor's eldest son was extremely unwell as a baby, and their family spent a lot of time in hospital during this time. He said it was this experience that prompted his interest in paediatric care.
"In one way it made me want to give back to that field," Mr Taylor said.
"It is tough, especially when the kids are unwell and the families are stressed, but it's something that is very rewarding because you can see ... that these children can go on to thrive and lead a very normal life with a chronic condition like Type 1 diabetes."
As part of the award Mr Taylor will receive $25,000 worth of medical equipment through the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, as well as $5000 for professional development.
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