The Paula Carr Diabetes Trust

Supporting people in Kent and Medway living with Diabetes

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Archives for November 2020

Normal service for diabetic eye screening

Message from The Kent & Medway Diabetic Eye Screening Service:

Recent government advice, effective from Thursday 5th of November, states that you may only leave your home for a specific number of reasons. One of these reasons is for medical appointments. We are keeping as many screening clinics open as possible and any appointments booked with us are going ahead.

If you cannot attend your appointment please contact the bookings team on 01233 880000.

We want you all to be safe, as well as our staff, so following HANDS FACE SPACE is more important than ever. Keep safe and keep well.

Paula Carr Diabetes Trust funds new foot care service

For some time, the Trustees of The Paula Carr Diabetes Trust have been concerned about the increased number of people in Kent living with diabetes who are losing limbs through diabetic neuropathy, and suffering with leg ulcers and other neurovascular symptoms.

The Trustees were introduced to Joanne Shapter who is a specialist podiatrist whose company works in the local Kent community. For the last three years she has delivered free foot care clinics to the homeless in Folkestone and recently started a Friday podiatry clinic at the Romney Marsh Day Centre where she has already referred one patient to his GP for possible peripheral arterial disease.

Jo Shapter, podiatrist

The Paula Carr Trustees became aware of Jo when they were approached about starting a similar podiatry clinic for the Ashford area. Jo said: “We offer diabetic foot care as part of our routine treatments and my colleagues and I were shocked at how  many diabetic patients, categorised as “routine”,  are presenting in clinic with tissue breakdown and active wounds that they were unaware of.”

The Trustees agreed that this service is imperative for people with diabetes and so agreed to fund a Monday weekly session at the East Kent Footcare surgery in the Ashford Market complex on Orbital Park. All PPE required for the podiatrist to examine each patient has also been funded by the charity.

Pictured here is Trustee Ros Debling, proudly showing her ‘Awesome Patient’ sticker after her foot check with Jo.

This service is free to people in Kent with diabetes but booking is essential to ensure the premises are COVID-19 secure. Face masks must be worn on entering the Ashford Market complex and at all times during the foot examination.

Bookings can be made by following this link to visit the East Kent Foot Care website.

On the website you will be asked to select an appointment date and time and answer a few questions concerning your diabetes and contact details.

Please do not call the Paula Carr Diabetes Centre nor The Paula Carr Trust Office concerning this service, all contact must be restricted to patients and East Kent Footcare to ensure patient confidentiality.