Huntleigh Workshop with Debbie Ruff

I work as a Lead Vascular Nurse at Northern Care Alliance in Manchester. I have over 30 years experience in vascular nursing and the management of complex wounds.

Over the last 3 years I have also worked in private practice at Gold Standard Foot and Leg Clinic extending my scope of practice in lower limb MSK and extended skills in shockwave therapy and focussed magnetic therapy.

Assessing a limb of concern “Vascular Assessment Made Easy”

Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) primarily a manifestation of widespread atherosclerotic disease affects one fifth of individuals aged 60 and above. If not diagnosed and managed optimally, it can too often lead to avoidable heart attacks, strokes, early deaths and amputations.

Podiatrists can play a critical role in diagnosis of peripheral arterial disease in order to improve patient outcomes. However published surveys of podiatrists in the UK examining current vascular assessment and practice demonstrate that most podiatrists are way behind in implementing best practice guidelines. This places many of podiatry services, practices and ultimately patients at risk.

Assessing a limb of concern on a busy clinic requires a simple, structured, reliable approach using the 3 Ps pulses, phases and pressures.. The focus should be on early suspicion, accurate clinical diagnosis, focused on identifying and triaging urgent and potentially limb or life threatening conditions like acute or chronic limb threatening ischaemia and referral into primary care cardiovascular management programmes. Embedding this approach to all our clinical practices, cultures, whichever setting we work in will save lives an limbs.

During the conference there will also be opportunities for delegates to attend the Arjo Huntleigh stand to undertake a lower limb vascular assessment to update their clinical skills.