A loving tribute to June James
It is with a heavy heart that we report the passing of June James. Alongside Debbie Hicks, June has been at the forefront of diabetes nursing. She was driven to improve the care of people with diabetes, passionate about education and was a pioneer throughout her stellar career. June died with her family around her and leaves behind an unrivalled legacy in diabetes nursing.
We will be celebrating June’s legacy at the Trend Diabetes national conferences taking place in London, Birmingham, Newcastle and Belfast this spring and summer. The work of Trend will continue going forward with long-term partners Orange Juice Communications taking a greater role working with Debbie.
A life in diabetes nursing
June worked for five decades in the NHS, latterly in her role as a Nurse Consultant and Non-Medical Prescriber across a variety of settings. In 2019, as recognition of her work, she was awarded the title of Honorary Associate Professor by the University of Leicester.
June was instrumental in raising the profile of diabetes specialist nursing. She was co-author of the NHS Diabetes Safe Use of Insulin e-learning modules, which have attracted more than 100,000 registrations. Along with other nurse consultants, she developed the ‘safe use of insulin’ national booklet complimenting the National Patient Safety Agency insulin passport. She also recently co-authored a new free-to-use ‘Six Steps to Insulin Safety’ e-learning module.
June has previously led on a variety of MSc diabetes modules; she was passionate about insulin safety, people with diabetes and advanced kidney disease, the care of older people, and the care of the dying. June represented Trend Diabetes on the Joint British Diabetes Societies working group and led on the national guidance on the management of Diabetes and Steroids and The Diabetes at the Front Door recommendations.
She was the lead author on the nationally and internationally acclaimed Trend Diabetes and End of life Care Diabetes Recommendations. She wrote on this subject in the previous two volumes of the International Textbook of Diabetes.
June wrote extensively in the literature and had developed more than 20 well-evaluated e-learning modules covering a wide range of topics. June has been a Co-Editor for Practical Diabetes and wrote and peer reviewed for other diabetes journals including Diabetic Medicine.
A special friend
Trend Diabetes Co-Founder Debbie Hicks said: “June was my peer, fellow Nurse Consultant and business partner for over 30 years, but more importantly she was my dear friend.
“We shared lots of fun developing Trend Diabetes together and are proud of the difference that has made to both people with diabetes and healthcare professionals. I will miss her deeply.”