Western Health's Diabetes Foot Service has been recognised as a centre of excellence, a prestigious accreditation awarded to only 18 services in Australia.
The service brings together a dedicated team of endocrinologists, infectious disease specialists, orthopaedic and vascular surgeons, podiatrists and diabetes educators to address the complex needs of patients with diabetic-related foot disease (DFD).
The team was awarded the National Association of Diabetes Centres (NADC) Interdisciplinary Diabetes High Risk Foot Service (iHRFS) Centre of Excellence Accreditation.
“This achievement highlights the exceptional, multidisciplinary care the team provides to patients with diabetes-related foot complications and also acknowledges expertise in research, education and governance,”
Eleanor Garnys, Acting Allied Health Podiatry Manager and Diabetes Foot Service Coordinator said.
The service is part of Western Health at Home, which offers a range of services across all our sites, virtually and in patients’ homes to support people to live more healthy days at home.
Diabetic-related foot disease (DFD) is a complication of diabetes, which the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) estimates 1.3 million Australians are living with (including type 1 and type 2 diabetes).
Diabetes is a chronic condition caused by the inability to produce insulin, or the body not being able to use it efficiently, or both. Insulin is a hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels.
People with diabetes face an increased risk of health complications, including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and DFD.
Eleanor Garnys, Acting Allied Health Podiatry Manager and Diabetes Foot Service Coordinator said the Foot Service offers patients multi-disciplinary care at Footscray Hospital, so patients don’t have to navigate multiple appointments with different providers in a variety of locations.
“This continuum of care is incredibly important for our patients who are navigating a complex condition,” Eleanor said.
The number of people needing this service is growing.
“As our community has expanded in the West there has been an increase in admissions of patients with diabetic-related foot disease,” Eleanor said.
Associate Professor Fiona Bodey, the Diabetes Foot Service Clinical Lead and Western Health Endocrinologist said the streamlined model of care they offer is crucial, as DFD can deteriorate rapidly if not managed properly.
"We offer our patients a really comprehensive care package that addresses all aspects of their diabetes and foot disease.” A/Prof Bodey said.
"The health changes we help our patients make not only assist them in healing their foot wounds but can also reduce their risk of other diabetes complications down the track.”
Whilst every effort is made to avoid amputations, sometimes infections are so severe that a part of the limb must be removed by surgery.
Mr Bernard Allard, Head of Unit, Vascular Surgery, who was a founding member and clinical lead of the service said:
“DFD causes a combination of disorders in the toes and feet of the person with diabetes, including nerve damage, blockage of the blood vessels and changes in the shape of the foot,” Mr Allard said.
“This increases the risk of damaging the skin and then infection can develop.
“With poor healing because of a lack of blood supply and diabetes lowering the immune system, this can turn into an ulcer.
“Restoring the blood supply is therefore critical to improving healing and preventing amputations.”
The Diabetes Foot Service provides expert assessment of the circulation and feeling in patient’s feet and the vascular surgery team work to restore the circulation.
“We work closely with endocrinologists, orthopaedic surgeons, infectious diseases specialists and radiologists to support the excellent work of the podiatrists and orthotists to save patient’s feet or enable them to walk after they have an amputation.”
