Calls To Improve Diabetes Care As Amputations Hit Record High

The number of diabetes-related amputations in England has reached an all-time high of 20 a day, according to new analysis.

Diabetes UK says there is an alarming difference in quality of care seen across the country and while the best-performing areas have consistently reduced their amputation rates, the worst-performing areas have made no improvements.

Experts estimate that up to 80% of diabetes-related amputations are preventable. Most are caused by foot ulcers, which are avoidable and easy to treat if detected early.

Using Public Health England figures, the charity discovered there are now 7,370 amputations a year - considerably more than the earlier figure of 7,042.

Diabetes UK wants the Government and the NHS to improve diabetes foot care, especially in areas where amputation rates are stagnant or getting worse.

Data suggests some NHS trusts are 10 times more likely than others to resort to an amputation than others.

Chris Askew, the charity's chief executive, said: "We know the devastating impact they have on people's lives as well as the huge cost to the NHS, yet we are not seeing action happening quickly enough across all areas of the country to address this.

"It's a travesty that good quality foot care is a postcode lottery. People need to be getting the right care in the right place at the right time now."

Robert Carew-Hunt is a former Foreign Office diplomat who suffers from Type 2 diabetes.

Over a 12-year period, he suffered several serious infections in his feet - and specialists at St George's Hospital in south London had no choice but to amputate his left leg below the knee after attempting at first to cut off one toe at a time.

He told Sky News: "There's a tendency to think if I control my blood sugars well, nothing bad will happen. That isn't the case unfortunately."