A new 3D digital imaging system has led to higher satisfaction for patients receiving care for their diabetes foot ulcers is now being expanded across the county. This means more patients will benefit from accurate assessments, faster access to treatment and care closer to home.
Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (RDH) working in partnership with Derbyshire Community Health Services NHS Foundation Trust and the East Midlands Academic Health Science Network (EMAHSN) are extending and expanding the system, called Silhouette® by providing 15 new cameras that will be located throughout Derbyshire.

The system allows for accurate assessment of foot ulcers at the point of care; capturing wound data to be shared remotely with healthcare professionals. This helps the Derbyshire Diabetes Foot teams to deliver care based on objective data and refer patients from community to hospital care more rapidly. It is vital that patients with diabetic foot ulcers receive regular treatment to minimise the risk of complications. Providing care in this way means that patient’s ulcers can be monitored much more closely.

The introduction of the new approach has reduced the number of outpatient appointments taking place at Royal Derby Hospitals; freeing up time for patients and making it easier to attend. In the first 12 months of the service being implemented outpatient waiting times have significantly reduced, with 72% of patients at RDH being seen within 30 mins, compared to only 3% in the past. In the community, 71% of patients are now being seen within 5 minutes of their appointment compared to longer wait times in the past.

The success of the project has been recognised and has been announced as a finalist entry for the inaugural HSJ Healthcare Partnership Awards in the category for ‘Best Innovation in Medical Technology.’ Winners of the awards will be announced on 8 March 2018.

As part of the Derbyshire Diabetes Transformation Plan, funded by NHS England (NHSE), the new service is being expanded to patients in Southern Derbyshire, in the following locations:

• Ilkeston Community Hospital
• Ripley Hospital
• Royal Derby Hospital
• Village Community Medical Centre
• St Oswald’s Hospital
• Peartree clinic
• Revive Centre
• Coleman Street Health Centre
• Swadlincote Health Centre
• Long Eaton Health Centre

The expansion of the service into North Derbyshire is due to go live later this year in the following locations:

• Chesterfield Royal Hospital NHS FT
• Wheatbridge Health Centre
• Clay Cross Hospital
• Welbeck Road Health Centre
• Dronfield Medical Centre
• Buxton Cottage Hospital
• Whitworth Hospital
• Chapel Health Centre

EMAHSN is continuing to work with Entec Health, the UK distributor for Silhouette® and commissioned the technology.