A new toe pressure device to help diagnose Walsall patients who may be suffering from a potentially fatal condition has been bought with the help of charity donations.

The Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust Community Podiatry Team at Bentley Health Centre set up clinics specialising in Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) which is a form of cardiovascular disease in which a build-up of fatty deposits in the arteries restricts the blood supply to leg muscles.

It can lead to amputations and prove fatal.

Podiatrist Alex Hadley said: “We wanted to provide a service in the community to help prevent unnecessary referrals to the vascular consultant at the Manor Hospital and to proactively assess our patients before they present with signs of lower limb ischaemia, to prevent the risk of diabetic lower limb amputation.

“Ischaemia is a restriction in blood supply to tissues. Historically, we would assess the blood pressure just above the ankle. This new device takes the blood pressure of the toe and the readings we receive determine if a patient has PAD or is showing early signs so we can intervene.

“Thanks to everyone who has donated money to our Well Wishers charity to help us buy this device and treat patients we were originally unable to assess, improving the quality of our service. “

Donations made to the trust’s Well Wishers charity have helped the team buy the device.

Georgie Westley, Fundraising Manager, added: “The charity donations included a fundraising tombola organised by Steps To Work (Walsall) and we’re thrilled to see that people’s generosity is making such a difference to patients.”