Issue - meetings

The Panel considered the report of Director of Quality and Integration providing the Panel with an update on the implementation of the Foot Care Pathway.

Graham Bowen - Solent NHS Trust and Georgina Cunningham - Southampton City CCG were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel discussed and number of matters and concerns including:

·  Ongoing transformation of foot care within the City. 

o  The Panel noted the improvements already made and the timelines involved.

·  The support given to diabetics.

o  The Panel noted that as part of care offered to diabetics within the City patients should be offered an annual foot care assessment.  It was explained that patients diagnosed with diabetes should be supported by the GP’s specialist nurse.  

·  The timescales involved in seeing a reduction in amputations related to diabetes. 

o  The Panel noted that it was likely that, given the current cohort, the statistics would show an increase in minor amputations in the short term.  .  It was A reduction in amputations was expected by 2018/19.

·  The shortage of podiatrists within the Country.

o  It was explained that there were relatively few trained podiatrists employed by the NHS.

RESOLVED that the Panel welcomed the progress made and that they would continue to monitor performance at future meetings.