Each week in England there are around 120 amputations in people with diabetes. The majority of diabetes-related amputations are caused by a "foot attack" – a foot ulcer or infection failing to heal. When people with a foot attack get rapid access for treatment by a specialist multi-disciplinary team this has been shown to promote faster healing and fewer amputations, saving money and lives.
In October 2012 people with diabetes, vascular surgeons, podiatrists, diabetologists, commissioners, researchers and policy advisers, GPs and a health economist came together in Westminster to spend a day sharing their expertise and experience of footcare for people with diabetes. They were all in agreement that rapid access to specialist assessment and treatment for all those with a foot problem would make all the difference in achieving the goal of reducing amputations by 50 per cent over the next five years.
Action needs to be taken by the NHS Commissioning Board, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and Health and Wellbeing Boards. This report sets out key recommendations for Clinical Commissioning Groups arising from the day.
Download Fast Track For A Foot Attack: Reducing Amputations (PDF, 630KB)