Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps his Department is taking to support people living with the effects of diabetic foot disease on their (a) economic, (b) social, (c) mental health and (d) personal wellbeing; and if he will make a statement.

This Government is committed to supporting everyone’s mental health and wellbeing and ensuring the right support for those with diabetic foot disease. All mental health trusts have established 24 hours a day, seven days a week urgent mental health helplines where people experiencing a mental health crisis can access support and advice but also face to face appointments where appropriate.

Evidence suggests that multidisciplinary footcare teams play a major role in a good diabetes footcare pathway and can significantly reduce amputations and subsequently the financial burden of diabetic foot disease. The proportion of hospitals offering access to multidisciplinary footcare teams has increased from 58 % in 2011 to 82% in 2019.