A new national minimum skills framework for the commissioning of foot care services for people with diabetes has been developed.
Foot in Diabetes UK (FDUK), Diabetes UK, The Association of British Clinical Diabetologists, The Primary Care Diabetes Society (PCDS) and The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists have worked in partnership to deliver this document.
Standards for the delivery of high quality foot care have already been defined by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence in 2004. For such clinical standards to be achieved they must be delivered by appropriately skilled healthcare professionals. This skills framework aims to help local service providers to deliver high quality foot care services for people with diabetes.
“This is a very important tool that will help ensure that people with diabetes receive the appropriate foot care. People with diabetes are more at risk of nerve damage, ulcers and amputations of the foot,” said Zoe Harrison Care Advisor at Diabetes UK.
“With the right education and care these complications can be avoided. It is essential that people with diabetes have their legs and feet examined by a healthcare professional with the appropriate skills at least once a year.”
The document addresses the skills needed for the management of the diabetic foot and concentrates on the following issues: routine basic assessment and care of the foot without any ulcer or lesion; expert assessment and care of the foot at increased risk, but without an ulcer or lesion; expert assessment and management of foot ulceration; management of the person whose foot ulcer or lesion has resolved.
The new National Minimum Skills Framework for the commissioning of footcare services for People with diabetes can be downloaded on the Diabetes UK website at http://www.diabetes.org.uk/news/nov06/footcare
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Diabetes UK 21-Nov-2006
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