Every two hours in England, someone loses their leg due to a non-healing wound - ‘A Great Big Week For Legs & Feet’, the first, national Legs Matter Awareness Week, June 3-7, is being held to urge people to ‘stand up’ to one of the UK’s biggest health challenges.
Locally, in 2016-17, across Barking and Dagenham CCG region it is estimated that 286 people had diabetic foot ulcers costing the NHS an estimated £3.2 million and there were 112 resulting amputations.
Alison Hopkins, CEO of Accelerate CIC, is urging people to play their part by checking their own and others’ legs and feet for 10 possible problems including swollen, tender legs or sores that won’t heal and to get involved by holding their own ‘Legs Matter Natter’, to take action with the ‘Legs Matter Pledge’ and by ‘Sharing Your One Big Thing’ - one important fact people wished they had known earlier about leg and foot health.
“We want people to check their own and others’ legs and feet and to speak to a pharmacist, nurse, podiatrist or GP if they are concerned. Getting early treatment makes all the difference and prevents the condition becoming more serious.”
The week starts off:
Awareness Events -
4 June 10am - 2pm - Ideas Store, Bow
6 June 10am - 2pm -St Joseph's Hospice, Hackney.
A special joint Sickle Cell Leg Ulcer Event with the Sickle Cell Society will be held on June 4, from 5-7pm, at the Education Centre, Mile End Hospital, Bancroft Road, London, for anyone with sickle cell ulcers and clinicians.
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