Gosport MP Caroline Dineage and selected local health leaders attended the launch event of BarlowCollins Ltd, a new healthcare and wellbeing consultancy that has its sights set on improving the health prospects for more than a million Type 2 diabetes sufferers.
The launch event took place at BarlowCollins’ offices and clinic based at the prestigious Fareham Innovation Centre on Friday October 2nd.
The new enterprise is the brainchild of a well-known local GP, who is leaving the NHS in order to offer people a wider spectrum of health and wellbeing services. Dr Donal Collins, who has worked as a GP partner at Highlands Surgery in Fareham since 1995, has set up BarlowCollins alongside specialist NHS manager and retired nurse Lin Barlow.
BarlowCollins offers a range of services, including a high-tech microsuction services for people suffering from impacted wax, causing symptoms of ear congestion.
“Ear wax is a real issue for sufferers” says Lin Barlow. “With our state of the art equipment, years of experience and range of price points we are aiming to make microsuction accessible for everyone in need of it.”
BarlowCollins will also be providing tailored advice and remedial treatment for people suffering from Type 2 diabetes, and other metabolic related syndromes all related to hyperinsulinaemia (Insulin resistance).
Diabetes is one of the underlying conditions that can make people more vulnerable to the worst symptoms of Covid-19, making it a particularly important issue to tackle currently.
“Type 2 diabetes affects 1 in 10 adults over the age of 40 and is a rapidly growing issue, not just in the UK but globally,” explained Dr Collins. “Many of the contributory causes relate back to diet and lifestyle which can be tackled effectively by giving people accurate information about their blood sugars, together with a tailored programme to bring those markers under control.”
Dr Collins has successfully treated Type 2 diabetes in people of all ages, including people in their 70s and 80s with just dietary intervention to reduce hunger – showing that it’s never too late to make lifestyle improvements to improve your overall health.
By addressing the root causes of Type 2 diabetes, rather than simply medicating its symptoms, BarlowCollins has a clearly articulated vision: ”We would like to give 1 million people with type 2 Diabetes the opportunity to get their disease into remission, and a life off medications with better outcomes. This creates value for the individual and the system”.
Prior to setting up the new venture, Dr Collins directed a community company, Fareham Area Clinical Enterprise Ltd (FACE), which carried out around 6000 ear microsuction procedures a year. He also latterly chaired south Hampshire Primary Care Alliance (a federation of 40 GP practices) and was clinical lead for the NHS Vanguard programme in the region, which won a System Leadership Initiative award from the Health Service Journal in 2019.
