Specialist podiatrist and lecturer to discuss foot assessment tool at free webinar for healthcare professionals

An experienced podiatrist and lecturer in diabetes care is among the speakers taking part in the EDFN’s upcoming webinar, ‘Upskilling the healthcare workforce in lower limb assessment and treatment’.

Delegates at the event on Thursday, February 1, 7pm, will hear from Jayne Robbie, a Specialist Podiatrist at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust and Senior Lecturer in Diabetes Care at Birmingham City University.

The webinar is aimed at podiatrists, nurses and other healthcare professionals and will look at how the healthcare workforce can develop the skills necessary to meet the challenge of growing numbers of people requiring lower limb assessment and treatment.

Jayne, who is also a Diabetes UK Clinical Champion, will deliver an overview of the ACT NOW foot assessment tool, which is designed to empower people with diabetes and HCPs with the knowledge to enable them to reduce potential delays in seeking early treatment for foot problems.

Her session will also provide the latest information on the innovative MSc in advancing practice in peripheral vascular disease at Birmingham City University.

The main learning points will include:

  1. To recognise the warning signs that might lead to ulceration or amputation
  2. To apply ACT NOW to reduce delays in seeking specialist foot care
  3. To highlight specialist vascular education programme.

The webinar will also feature Consultant Vascular Surgeon Naseer Ahmad, from Manchester University Foundation Trust, who will deliver the session ‘From Manchester to MARS: How we reduced amputations by 42% within 6 years’.

Mr Ahmad, who is Clinical Director of both Manchester Amputation Reduction Strategy and Greater Manchester Aneurysm Screening Programme, will discuss how the Manchester Amputation Reduction Strategy (MARS) levelled up MDT access for all lower limb wounds to the diabetes standard without affecting diabetes care in its pilot area, which covers a population of 220,000.

Delegates will also hear how wound care has become a priority for Greater Manchester Integrated Care Board.

The main learning points will include:

  1. What proportion of lower limb amputations are in those with and without diabetes
  2. How do we define a ‘whole systems’ approach to amputation reduction
  3. What common approaches can increase MDFC clinic capacity.

The webinar is in response to the National Wound Care Strategy Programme (NWCSP) highlighting the variation in lower limb assessment and treatment due to the focus on disease specific commissioning.

There are around 8,000 major amputations a year in England due to diabetes, but there is an equal number in those who do not have the condition.

The NWCSP aims to provide equal services for all people with lower limb threatening pathology. However, current podiatry services are overwhelmed with diabetes related foot problems alone.

Consultant Podiatrist Richard Leigh, who chairs the EDFN, said: “Doubling the number of people requiring lower limb assessment and treatment will require a different approach to care delivery as there is no extra government financial support to expand services.

“Therefore, upskilling podiatrists, nurses and other healthcare professionals will be essential in meeting this challenge.”

Book your place on the EDFN webinar here.

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