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Strong Local Voice, Strong Local ChampionAnnette Brooke, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset & North Poole |
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Annette Brooke MP puts feet first by backing call for improved diabetes foot care
October 30, 2012 10:51 AM
Annette Brooke MP has shown her support for improved diabetes foot care by signing a pledge calling for an end to the scandal of thousands of preventable diabetes-related foot amputations, which are carried out each year.
Ms Brooke, MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, attended a parliamentary reception held by the charity Diabetes UK, the College of Podiatry and NHS Diabetes as part of the charity's Putting Feet First Campaign. The campaign aims to reduce the number of diabetes-related amputations by half within the next five years and raise awareness of good diabetes foot care.
People with diabetes are over 20 times more likely to have a lower limb amputation than the rest of the population and in the UK 100 diabetes-related amputations are carried out each week. Yet up to 80 per cent of these amputations could have been prevented with better healthcare and improved management of the condition.
There are also widespread variations in diabetes care, with many hospitals, for example, not offering the access to specialist foot care teams within 24 hours that is recommended by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence.
Annette Brooke said: "The fact that people with diabetes are enduring unnecessary amputations is a scandal. Not only are amputations hugely traumatic but many people die within a few years of having them.
"This is why I am backing Diabetes UK's call for improved diabetes foot care and a reduction in the number of diabetes related amputations. I will be working with health leaders in my constituency of Mid Dorset and North Poole and helping to get this issue raised in Parliament to ensure that people with diabetes get the best care and support possible."
Barbara Young, Chief Executive of Diabetes UK, said; "We are delighted that Annette Brooke is supporting our campaign because this is a very important issue. Too many people with diabetes are being badly let down by poor care, which is resulting in unnecessary amputations and early death.
"In some parts of the country diabetes foot care is not being provided in an integrated multi-disciplinary way with rapid referrals for high risk cases. This is completely unacceptable and this is why we are calling on Commissioning Groups and clinicians to implement a plan for integrated diabetes foot services."
"For example, diabetes foot problems can deteriorate very rapidly and this is why people with diabetes who have foot ulcers must have emergency access to a multi-disciplinary foot care team within 24 hours. Sadly, too many hospitals do not have this provision in place.
For more information about diabetes foot care and the Putting Feet First campaign go to
http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Get_involved/Campaigning/Putting-feet-first/