There are approximately 370,000 people diagnosed with diabetes in the South West. This number is increasing by 5% each year, making diabetes one of the biggest health challenges currently facing our population. Early diagnosis, treatment and good control of diabetes is vital to reduce the incidence of serious diabetes complications.
The main priority for the Diabetes Network in 2014/15 is diabetic foot care. The annual amputation rate per 1,000 adults with diabetes varies from 2.5 to 4.7 in the South West compared to a national average of 2.6 across England.
The work will launch with a review of foot care services for diabetes patients across the South West. Criteria for benchmarking in each CCG area will be based on NICE guidelines, the NHS England 9 care processes for diabetes and Diabetes UK “State of the Nation 2013”.
Other priorities for the network include improving involvement in the primary care National Diabetes Audit to 95% by May 2015. Diabetes is also part of the Opportunities for Preventing Admissions project ( OPRA). Both these areas of work will support the early identification of diabetic foot ulcers and reduce variation in the management of this condition. It is the network ambition to reduce major amputations in diabetic patients below the national average by March 2018.
