Calls for funding to reduce amputations:

Cameron · Mar 26, 2012

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Calls for funding to reduce amputations: : recent broadcast from ABC Australia

The Australasian Podiatry Council is calling on the Federal Government to invest $85 million a year in podiatry services to diabetes patients with the aim of reducing the number of lower limb amputations. But the AMA says the number of amputations is actually decreasing so funding these specialised services are not warranted.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-03-26/calls-for-funding-to-reduce-amputations/3913674

Interesting debate.

toeslayer

NewsBot · Mar 27, 2012

Follow up pres release:

AMA gets it wrong on diabetes

Australia’s podiatrists are disappointed the Australian Medical Association (AMA) does not appear to understand the issue of this country’s rising diabetes-related amputation rates.

In a story on the ABC’s PM programme yesterday, the AMA claimed diabetes-related amputations are actually coming down, from 7 in every 1000 males to 6.

However, the President of the Australasian Podiatry Council, Andrew Schox, says the claim simply isn’t accurate, and demonstrates a misunderstanding of the underlying research data.

‘If we look at the amputation rate per 1,000 people with diabetes only, the Australian figure is 4.1 / 1,000. However, the same UK figure, reported as ‘scandalously’ high by a UK Health Minister, is 2.5. If the UK 2.5 figure is ‘scandalous’ what do you call 4.1 in Australia?’ Mr Schox queried.

Mr Schox further explained, ‘of course the number of amputations is still rising in Australia. The diabetes amputation rate for all Australians has been rising for more than a decade, for instance,

In 1997 the number was at 2,600 amputations (or 14/100,000)
In 2004 it was 3,400 (or 17 /100,000)
In 2007 it was 3,700 (or 18/100,000)’

Andrew Schox says the situation is set to get even worse.

‘Looking at the data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, we project there will be 4,300 diabetes-related amputations in 2011 (or ~20 / 100,000). The average for other countries is 12 / 100,000 and about 7-10 / 100,000 in the UK.

‘We completely support the collaborative approach recommended by the latest Australian guidelines that involves podiatrists, doctors and other health care professionals working together to reduce amputations. That’s why we’re puzzled by the AMA’s apparent ignorance of the situation.’

‘We would be more than happy to sit down with the AMA and explain the statistics’ Mr Schox concluded.
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