The first National Conference held by the English Diabetes Footcare Network saw footcare professionals share best practice and discuss latest research.
The online event, which can be viewed here, saw leading footcare experts and Multidisciplinary Foot Teams (MDFTs) explore topics including the role of foot protection during the pandemic and hospital-acquired ulcerations protocol. There was also a panel discussion which looked at the issue of MDFTs seeing all patients with foot wounds to reduce non-traumatic amputations.
Christian Pankhurst, Clinical Specialist Orthotist with Guy’s and St Thomas’, said: “The first national conference was hugely successful, and it was really encouraging to see footcare professionals come together to share good practice and discuss current key issues around footcare. Shared discussions such as these can only benefit patient outcomes and the care we deliver.”
The EFDN was founded in 2019 by a group of interested diabetes foot champions, Paul Chadwick, Mike Edmonds, Alistair McInnes, Richard Leigh and Christian Pankhurst, who all wanted to establish a network across England.
The aim of the steering group was to develop an English-wide network to provide a focus for strategic developments, share best practice and advise relevant stakeholders. The network then feeds into the national programme.
The network is currently a coalition of the 12 local Strategic Clinical Networks (SCNs), relevant multidisciplinary health professionals and academics led by podiatrists under the banner of the Royal College of Podiatry.
