Rochdale is proud to pilot a new Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) Referral and Assessment Service (RAS) across Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale to help reduce demand on hospital services.
The new community-based Podiatry service will offer vascular assessment, diagnosis, and clinical management plans to patients experiencing the symptoms of peripheral arterial disease.
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a common condition where a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts blood supply to leg muscles.
Individuals are now able to access assessment clinics at convenient times which suit with later clinic slots to accommodate patients who wish to attend in the evenings Clinics will be held at two locations:
- Phoenix Centre in Heywood
- Nye Bevan House in Rochdale.
The aim of the service is to provide timely, skilled assessment and through patient-clinician collaboration to agree patient centred community-based treatment plans. The service will also work with GP practice and other healthcare staff to raise awareness of PAD and its treatment, to improve detection and reduce unnecessary referrals into secondary care.
Led by Monica Scully, advanced lower limb vascular practitioner, the service will provide a supported referral route into lifestyle improvement, and work with community partners, Your Trust and The Big Life Group to support patients to quit smoking and get more active. The new service will also work with GPs to optimise PAD management in line with NICE clinical guidance.
Monica said: “With the Heywood, Middleton and Rochdale PAD assessment service (pilot), we have an incredible opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives and futures of people. The service will deliver timely, skilled, accurate assessment and early detection of PAD in the community setting, reducing waiting times for secondary care and the associated costs. The model is tried and tested; Salford saw a 42% reduction in amputation rates from 2015 to 2021 and North Manchester experienced 90% reduction in PAD referrals to vascular secondary care on inception of their service. My ambition is for this community-based service to be established long term and become integral in the management of peripheral arterial disease in Rochdale.