Charity says amputations ‘still too high’

The number of people in Mansfield and Ashfield having amputations due to diabetes is still above the national average, new figures have revealed.

Between 2010 and 2013 in the Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group area, 4.3 people per thousand with diabetes have had an amputation each year, figures circulated by Diabetes UK have revealed.

This is above the national average of 2.6 per thousand people with diabetes per year having a lower limb amputation, the charity said.

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The commissioning group is now introducing integrated care teams, working closely with GP practices, to quickly identify those at risk, a spokesman said.

Dr Judy Jones, clinical lead for Mansfield and Ashfield Clinical Commissioning Group, said: “We are working hard to identify all people with diabetes, especially those with foot problems.

“We accept that the numbers of amputations is still too high and our local practices are committed to seeing this improve.

“It is important that practice nurses, GPs and hospital staff, as well as people who work in care homes and social care, recognise the signs and symptoms of common problems that, left unmanaged, can lead to amputation.”

People with diabetes are over 20 times more likely to have a lower limb amputation than people without the condition and there are more than 100 in the UK every week.