The Urgo Foundation diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) award is granted every year to healthcare professionals who have innovative ideas, initiatives and practices for the prevention and management of DFUs. Projects may be submitted by any healthcare professional working in the field, including specialists, clinicians, or multidisciplinary teams. Proposed projects may focus on the prevention or the management of the pathology, in particular:
- Infection management.
- Post-amputation physical therapy.
- Wound debridement.
- First-line dressing choice (for instance, recommendations, protocols, usage).
- Caregiver training.
- Management of the patient, the wound and comorbidities.
- Improvement of patient concordance.
- Epidemiological data and healthcare networks.
Applicants submit their projects to Urgo Medical, an independent panel reviews each one and then shortlists three or four. Shortlisted applicants are then invited back to present their projects to the panel before the final decision is made. The panel includes Jill Cundell (Lecturer/Practitioner Podiatry, University of Ulster), Dr Joanne McCardle (Research Fellow, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh), Professor Michael Edmonds (King’s College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) and Dr Paul Chadwick (Consultant Podiatrist, Salford Royal Hospital NHS Foundation Trust). The successful applicant receives £20,000 funding for his/her project from Urgo Medical and are presented with an award at the FDUK conference in Harrogate.
In 2014, Urgo was overwhelmed with submissions and it was decided that the grant would be allocated between two projects. On ‘Preventing Diabetic Foot Ulcers: Back to Basics’ (Alexandra Whalley, Advanced Podiatrist Diabetes, Bolton Foundation Trust), Paul Chadwick stated: “Alex is tackling a significant problem in diabetic foot disease — the increasing number of ulcerations and subsequent amputations — by reviewing not the end point of amputation, but focussing on the ulceration as the catastrophic event it is and looking at the journey to ulceration. This audit/critical review will provide evidence that will impact nationally on how our foot care services are structured and delivered.”
Joanne McCardle added to Paul’s comments: “There is an increasing awareness that previous ulceration is the biggest risk factor for subsequent amputation in the diabetic foot. Therefore, it seems logical that we need to take a step back and look at the factors that lead to ulceration in the first place. We already have knowledge of risk factors for ulceration, but this piece of work will really provide insight into other associated factors.”
‘Empowering Patients and Clinicians to Save More Limbs and Lives’ (Martin Fox, Vascular Specialist Podiatrist for Manchester Leg Circulation Service, Pennine Acute) was the second winning project. Paul Chadwick commented: “Martin shows such passion about the area of reducing mortality and improving patients’ outcomes. It is a key part of a wider strategy to raise awareness of the risk of cardiovascular complications and foot ulceration. It impacts on the practice of podiatrists encouraging them to focus not just on the hole in the foot, but the whole of the patient.”
Joanne McCardle expanded, stating: “Martin is an expert and pioneer in linking together vascular and podiatry services. This award will provide him the opportunity to develop this further and ultimately ensure patients are reviewed by the right people in a timely manner. The clinical skills required will be quantified and awareness increase.”
Urgo Foundation Award applications for 2015
Applications for the Urgo Foundation Award are now being welcomed. If you would like to apply, please visit www.urgo.co.uk to download the application form. All submissions must be received before June 30 2015.
