Diabetes warnings over County Durham amputations

[Northerner]

A CHARITY has warned that people in the region could be at increased risk of foot amputations because three hospitals do not have a specialist diabetic footcare team.

Checks by Diabetes UK found that Darlington Memorial Hospital, the University Hospital of North Durham, in Durham City, and Bishop Auckland General Hospital all lack specialist footcare teams.

According to Diabetes UK, having these teams in place to ensure quick referral can help reduce the amputation rate in people with diabetes, which is more than 20 times higher than in people without the condition.

The charity says up to 80 per cent of amputations in people with diabetes could be prevented by better health care.

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/9883904.Diabetes_warnings_over_County_Durham_amputations/

 

[Amanda102]

That's interesting. My daughter is treated at the University Hospital of North Durham and has never had her feet checked (or indeed any advice whatsoever about foot care). I assumed it was because she is just young or maybe it was something they would do periodically as she has not been diagnosed a year yet. Do other people in other areas get feet checked routinely?

 

[Northerner]

That's interesting. My daughter is treated at the University Hospital of North Durham and has never had her feet checked (or indeed any advice whatsoever about foot care). I assumed it was because she is just young or maybe it was something they would do periodically as she has not been diagnosed a year yet. Do other people in other areas get feet checked routinely?

I get my feet checked once a year by a podiatrist, unless I have a problem in which case I can ask for an appointment sooner. What surprises me is that I have had excellent care, despite the fact that Southampton also has a very poor record on amputations. I have had to be proactive in making sure I get my check ups, but the service appears to be there - in a lot of places it appears there is no access to podiatry services, or they have to be paid for, which is clearly ridiculous given the scale of the problem and human and financial cost from not providing early and preventative care.

 

[Tina chick]

When i was on the child team my feet were never checked there are only checked now as i developed a lump and the feet specialist thought it would be a good idea to keep me on there books. I dont think this is anything to do with the UHND as the hospital doctor has never checked my feet

 

[Copepod]

But, if, during anual checks, diabetes doctors and nurses are checking for foot sensation, using a nylon filament tool, and then referring anyone with sensation problems / impaired sensation to a community podiatrist, that might provide a good service.