Feet First Project - Taking Foot Care to the Bush

Foot disease is a common, costly and complex complication of many chronic diseases which may result in lower limb amputation. Early identification and timely referral of patients with acute foot disease has been shown to reduce hospitalisation and associated lower limb amputations rates.

Of the 218 lower limb amputations performed in the Townsville Hospital and Health Service (THHS), 27 per cent were performed on patients residing in rural or remote post codes and 26 per cent identified as First Nations.

The Feet First Project trained Allied Health Assistants (AHA) and Indigenous Health Workers (IHW) in foot risk stratification screening and low risk foot care in each rural THHS site, providing rural consumers with equitable access to a quality, culturally appropriate foot screening and care service that identifies and manages foot disease in a timely manner.