Improving Diabetic Foot Care: A Guide for Commissioners
Northamptonshire
Nene and Corby in Northamptonshire received transformation funding of £657,000 in 2017-18 and £664,000 in 2018-19 to improve diabetic foot care.
Before the transformation funding, there was insufficient capacity to meet demand. Patients were waiting several weeks for key elements of foot care, and up to a year for access to the foot protection service.
Maria Mousley is a consultant podiatrist at Northamptonshire Healthcare NHS FT.
The transformation funding was used to add 6.3 WTE podiatrists, plus pharmacist, vascular surgery, diabetologist, vascular nurse and administrative inputs to the diabetic foot care pathway.
Local data indicate that waiting times have come down substantially since the changes were made; patients can now access the foot protection service within 5 weeks, and there is faster access to vascular and other specialist inputs.