Diabetes foot protection service

The Diabetes Foot Protection Service (FPS) is available to patients who have been assessed as being at moderate to high risk of developing diabetes related foot problems. This service is available to people with diabetes who have a GP registered in Havering, Barking and Dagenham and Redbridge.

All podiatrists within the department are trained to BSc (Hons) podiatry level or equivalent and are registered with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC).

The Diabetes Foot Protection Team provides the following services:

  • Diabetic foot assessment in line with NICE guidelines.
  • Management and treatment to prevent development of diabetic foot complications and maintain optimal foot health.
  • Provision of education and advice.
  • Onward referral to other health services if required.

The primary aim of this service is to reduce the incidence of diabetic foot complications through thorough assessment, management and onward care planning and advice. Following an in-depth assessment, the team will work with patients to put together an individualised care plan.

This service will accept referrals from primary care and other healthcare professionals for patients with the assessed diabetic foot risk category of moderate or high risk levels.

High risk

Any of the following risk factors:

  • Previous foot ulceration.
  • Previous amputation.
  • History of Charcot foot.
  • Receiving dialysis.
  • Neuropathy and non-critical limb ischaemia.
  • Neuropathy with callus and/ or deformity (Deformity is defined as 'A change in foot shape that resulted in a difficulty in fitting shoes which could be purchased in  high street shops'. (Scottish Diabetes Group – Foot Action Group 2010).
  • Non-critical limb ischaemia with callus and/or deformity.

Moderate risk

Any one of the following risk factors:

  • Neuropathy (i.e., Abnormal/ loss of sensation tested using a 10g monofilament).
  • Non-critical limb ischaemia (Peripheral vascular disease, i.e., Absent foot pulses).
  • Deformity.

The service will triage referrals with the outcome being one of these possibilities:

  • Referral returned to the GP with treatment advice., This outcome would take place if the patient does not meet the threshold for a moderate or high-risk foot (low risk).
  • Referral accepted for treatment in the FPS.
  • Onward referral to either the community podiatry service at Havering, Barking and Dagenham or Redbridge, if there is an active foot problem,
  • or the BHRUT diabetic foot MDT, if the referral threshold is met. (NOTE: to prevent delay, GPs and community podiatrists outside the FPS will retain the ability to refer direct to the diabetic foot MDT – it is not intended that patients with active ulcerations are referred via the FPS. The application forms for each service are available through the adjacent links).

The service will provide equal access for all patients across BHR, this will include a domiciliary service for those who are housebound.

Patient information

Contact our service:

Diabetes Foot Protection Service
Chadwell Heath Health Centre
Ashton Gardens
Chadwell Heath
Romford
RM6 6RT

Email: diabetesfootprotectionservice@nelft.nhs.uk

Phone number: 0300 300 1939 — Telephone line opening times: 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm, Monday to Friday, excluding bank holidays.

Clinic sites:

South Hornchurch Health Centre
Cranham Health Centre
Harold Hill Health Centre
Chadwell Heath Health Centre
Porters Avenue Health Centre
Ilford Exchange Health Centre (Opening June 2024)