Report resource
Since 2013/14, there has been a growth in the volume and value of clinical negligence claims involving patients with diabetes-related lower limb complications. The majority of claims have involved patients with a diabetic foot ulcer who went on to undergo a major lower limb amputation. Major amputation is a life changing event for a person with diabetes, but the tragedy is all the greater if it could have been prevented. In such circumstances, at the very least, all possible lessons should be learnt from the circumstances surrounding such amputations and patient safety improved.
The report makes recommendations to improve patient care and proposes certain standards which should be put into practice and regularly audited. By this means, it is hoped that the preventable loss of limbs due to diabetes be reduced and the trend to the increasing number of major amputations in England be reversed.
We have created some slides summarising the reports key messages available here:
Diabetes and lower-limb complications slides
Interested in learning more about diabetes and lower limb complications? Read our interview with Nicole Mottolini to mark World Diabetes Day 2021.
Download Diabetes and lower limb complications: A thematic review of clinical negligence claims
