Leading foot health experts call for an end to avoidable amputations

The College of Podiatry is calling on healthcare commissioners to prioritise diabetic foot care and end avoidable amputations that can have a devastating impact on the lives of patients and their families and cost the NHS millions.

Complications from diabetic foot disease are costing the NHS in England more than a billion pounds a year.

The College of Podiatry has launched an online commissioners’ guide that exposes in detail the comparative rates of amputations across England. It is calling on commissioners to take action and help end the postcode lottery of avoidable amputations.

New rehab garden helps hospital patients return home with confidence

Leamington Spa Hospital has opened a garden to rehabilitate patients who have experienced brain injuries, strokes and amputations.

Lead physiotherapist Lucy Gwynne described the garden as ‘unique’ and said its design aims to improve the balance, mobility and confidence of patients in dealing with everyday hazards on foot and in wheelchairs.

The features of the garden are a slalom course, stepping stone path, uneven surface, bridge, activity board, wire loop challenge and cognitive therapy facilities.

Man or machine? An experimental study of prehospital emergency amputation

Emerg Med J 2016;33:641-644 doi:10.1136/emermed-2015-204881

Prehospital emergency amputation is a rare procedure, which may be necessary to free a time-critical patient from entrapment. This study aimed to evaluate four techniques of cadaveric lower limb prehospital emergency amputation.

UHCW Research: C Leech. Published June 2016, Revised October 2016