Diabetes chief: learn from Newham

Diabetes clinics across the country have been advised to follow the blueprint used by Newham Foot Care Clinic after it was named one of the top performers in England.

The National Diabetes Audit placed the clinic amongst the top 25 performing practices in the country after its high performance in reducing the amount of minor or major amputations needed.

Roz Rosenblatt, London Regional Manager for Diabetes, said the “rest of the country” should learn from the clinic’s example and follow its “outstanding work”.

The regional boss said the clinic, based at Newham University Hospital, was leading the field in reducing the amount of diabetes-related amputations.

Patients with diabetes are more than 20 times more likely to suffer an amputation than those without the condition. There are around 6,000 diabetes-related amputations across England annually.

The audit found that in the worst performing areas, people with diabetes are more than eight times more likely to suffer an amputation than patients living with the condition in Newham.

Michael Van Orsouw, the vascular nurse at the clinic, said the success of the practice was down to its multi-disciplinary team. “Our team includes a vascular surgeon, a consultant diabetologist, and a podiatrist, in addition to nurse practitioners,” he said. “The team is available for all diabetic patients whether visiting our day foot care clinic or as an inpatient requiring treatment.”

“We take a patient centred approach – so that at every step of the way in their treatment, the individual is involved. It’s definitely a ‘no decision about you without you’ approach.”