Reducing diabetes patient amputations
Diabetes is one of the leading causes of amputation in New Zealand but a team of Wellington clinicians say in many cases it’s entirely preventable.
In an effort to prove their point the team, led by vascular surgeon Kes Wicks, has set up a first-of-itskind free clinic for diabetics with a high risk of foot disease.
Wicks, with the support of Capital & Coast DHB (CCDHB), started the High-Risk Diabetes Foot Clinic last year to focus on the preservation of limbs, bringing together several experts in the field.
The clinic, a first for the Wellington region, operates fortnightly with a multidisciplinary team of a podiatrist, orthotist, vascular surgeon, diabetic nurse specialist or endocrinologist, infectious disease doctor and orthopaedics.
Wicks said the main catalyst for getting the clinic across the line was a decision by CCDHB to bring in an in-house podiatrist, Fiona Popert, after 20 years of outsourcing.
While the scheme initially faced some push-back due to the clinic’s potential cost, Wicks said once it was found to be cost neutral to set up the DHB came around.
‘‘Foot infections for diabetics is a hugely costly process for the patient, for the community and for the health system.
‘‘The way to prevent the complications of infection and ulceration is to have multiple people having input into the foot care for diabetics as early as possible.’’
Team member and diabetic nurse specialist Lorna Bingham said while cost saving was a bonus, the real win was the way in which patient care had been streamlined
‘‘From a patient perspective they were going to four clinics and seeing four specialists so this is much easier.’’