Improved foot wound care service reduces the number of necessary amputations

Pictured: Standing Proud. Ryan Clay, Clinical Practice Educator for Tissue Viability and Catriona Ely, Clinical Podiatric Lead for Wound Care

An innovative team of clinicians at the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust recently co-ordinated a Rapid Pathway Development Workshop (RPDW) for foot wound care and have implemented changes that have reduced the number of amputations seen at the Trust.

The new cross-collaborative service has put in to practise a direct referral system involving the Trust’s vascular service and podiatric surgery, adult community nursing team and the Trust’s tissue viability team. Patients currently under the care of the MYHT adult community team no longer have to wait for a GP referral to obtain a wound aetiology to determine the cause of an infection.

The direct referral means patients waiting time for treatment has been significantly reduced. The adult community team can develop an effective management plan from the start of a patient’s treatment, resulting in a reduction in the likelihood of a foot infection becoming irreversible.

The changes made to the foot wound care service have subsequently meant three major amputations have been avoided within the first six weeks of the service going live.

Len Richards, Chief Executive of the Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust said;

“We are always looking for ways to improve the services we provide. This successful RPDW is a prime example of how when colleagues work collaboratively we can achieve great things and provide the best services and patient experience. All teams involved in the workshop and subsequent service launch should feel very proud.

“This new way of working was implemented to make sure all patients with foot wounds are given an equitable service. Quality of care is at the heart of everything we do.

“Currently the service is managing between 40 – 90 referrals a week from our district nursing team, we hope to accept direct referrals from practice nurses, GP’s and the wider community very soon.”