Diabetes Foot Clinic

The Diabetes Foot Clinic manages and treats severe diabetes related foot complications. This service is part of the acute foot multidisciplinary team, working with vascular surgery and diabetes consultants.

The podiatry department runs a five-day-a-week emergency diabetic foot service for acute diabetes foot conditions that would otherwise require attendance at the emergency department (A&E).These include new ulceration, infection, and acute Charcot arthropathy.

The service runs Monday to Friday, from 9am to 5pm.

Routine care of nails (nail cutting), ingrown nail care, general foot care (corns and calluses) and biomechanics (insoles) are not available and would need a referral to our community colleagues: single.pointofcontact@nhs.net

Referrals

Referrals can come from a variety of sources, such as GPs, community podiatry district nursing referrals, self-referral and within the hospital including A&E.

We accept email referrals from any health care professional using an nhs.net account: Bhn-tr.bedfordhospitalmdft@nhs.net

Emergency Diabetes Foot Hotline number (only to be used by health care professionals or current patients of this service):

  • 01234 792663

If we are unable to take your call, please leave a message on our answer machine and we will get back to you as soon as possible.

Further information

For more information on how diabetes can affect the feet, please visit Diabetes UK.

At your appointment

It is not unusual to be seen by more than one member of the diabetes foot team during your appointment, therefore please allow sufficient time.

The diabetes foot team is multidisciplinary and made up of:

  • Diabetes specialist podiatrists
  • Diabetes consultants
  • Diabetes specialist nurses
  • Podiatry assistants
  • Administrative staff

You may also be referred to other members of the extended Diabetes Foot Team:

  • Vascular surgeons
  • Orthopaedic surgeons
  • Diabetes Dietitians
  • Orthotists/Prosthetists

At your first and some subsequent appointments we may need to undertake/perform:

  • A full medical history
  • Blood tests
  • Other tests and investigations such as x-ray, wound swab, tissue or bone sample
  • Wound care which may include debridement and application of a dressing
  • Fitting of offloading boots/shoes

What to bring with you to your first appointment:

  • List of current medication including any antibiotics you may be taking
  • Your current usual footwear (outside and inside)
  • Details of any allergies
  • Any medication you may be due to take at time of your appointment such as insulin
  • Your diabetes record book or diabetes monitor

Dressings

We do not offer a routine dressings service. In between appointments you may need to have dressings done at your GP practise, by district nurses (only if you are unable to go to your GP) or some patients prefer to do the dressings themselves and we can offer training if this is more convenient.