A new photographic initiative reveals the scale of preventable amputations in the UK and the impact on both patients and the UK National Health Service (NHS).
AmpuNATION, a project led by Abbott, launches with a series of confronting portraits of real people living with amputation. Shot by iconic photographer Rankin, the images accompany a health economics report published in the British Journal of Surgery and aims to help people see and acknowledge the problem behind the statistics.
The Abbott-funded BJS report, written by Athanasios Saratzis (University of Leicester, Leicester, UK) and colleagues, found that the NHS could save more than £8 million a year if the rate of major lower-limb amputations among chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI) index procedures is reduced from 10% to 3% across England and Wales.
An Abbott press release notes that the AmpuNATION initiative calls for increased awareness of PAD and the threat of amputation in key at-risk groups, faster diagnosis and referrals, consistent standards of care and a clear pathway for people living with PAD.
“Our clinical and health economics assessment shows that the NHS could save millions of pounds a year, and improve outcomes for patients, by increasing revascularisation rates and reducing the number of preventable amputations in people with PAD. As a treating clinician, I see the devastating impact that amputation has on people. They don’t just lose a limb, they lose their confidence, their freedom, autonomy, and many lose the motivation to keep fighting their condition. We must increase awareness, provide timely diagnosis and treatment, and embrace the innovations that can reduce the number of amputations in the NHS,” Saratzis commented in the press release.
“Every preventable amputation is a tragedy, not just for the patient but the loved ones around them. At Abbott, we are proud to support the AmpuNATION initiative to raise awareness of the signs of PAD to reduce the number of amputations,” Jonathan Wood, regional director, Abbott Vascular, North Europe, remarked.
