COMMENT: Collaborative approach is to the benefit of patients

We revealed last year that figures showed there were 1.4 major amputations per 1,000 annually among adults with diabetes. The national average is 0.8.

So it is pleasing to be able to report on page 10 today that positive steps are being taken to help reduce the number of amputations amongst those with diabetes.

It is also heartening to see that this is being achieved with a collaborative approach where involved parties work together for the benefit of patients.

Fareham and Gosport Diabetes UK Group was asked to see what improvements could be made to healthcare in the area to help people with the condition.

Now recommendations made by the group following a consultation and survey have been accepted in principle by the Fareham and Gosport Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

All that hard work is being used to inform best practice and achieve better outcomes.

The consultation process was a revealing one. It found that more than a third of patients had not received an education course when they were newly-diagnosed, while 58 per cent felt they were given little information on managing their diabetes.

Only 41 per cent were given their Foot Risk Score, which looks at the risks of a patient developing diabetes-related problems in their feet which could lead to amputations.

There is clearly a lot to be done around improving general awareness among those with the condition.

But we commend the Fareham and Gosport Diabetes UK Group for the important part it is playing in trying to raise awareness and reduce risks.