National Diabetes Foot Care Audit 2018 to 2023 (9 May 2024)

Summary

The National Diabetes Foot Care Audit (NDFA) has published a State of the Nation report for 2018 to 2023. Based on data from England and Wales from 1 Apr 2018 to 31 Mar 2023, it details the findings and recommendations relating to the assessment, outcomes and participation in the NDFA for this period.

Ulceration of the foot in people living with diabetes presents significant challenges, including emotional, physical and financial costs, and is associated with increased risk of both amputation and death. It affects between 1 and 2% of all people with diabetes each year and its management accounts for approximately 1% of the total NHS budget. The overall aim of the NDFA is to measure factors associated with increased risk of ulcer onset and adverse ulcer outcomes, and to share information relating to best clinical practice.

This report contains three key findings:

1. The time to first expert assessment (FEA) is key to achieving the positive outcomes of being alive and ulcer free (AAUF) at 12 weeks
2. There is a marked variation between foot care services both in terms of assessment and outcomes
3. There are wide ranging differences between regions, integrated care boards and services in ulcer registration rates, and also the percentage of those registered that are classified as severe.