THE Royal Blackburn and Burnley General hospitals performed 51 amputations on patients in 2013.

East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) released the figure following a national report on vascular disease from the All Party Parliamentary Group.

Neil Carmichael MP, chairman of the group, said: “Too many patients aren’t getting the treatment they need to avoid losing their legs. The All Party Parliamentary Group on Vascular Disease, working with the country’s top experts in this field, recommends that the Department of Health make reducing lower limb-loss a major priority.”

Ian Stanley, interim executive medical director at ELHT, said: “The trust has a multidisciplinary foot team and both clinical commissioning groups have organised foot care services which means the local population already have access to good local services and the necessary support.

“Having a high fat diet, high blood pressure and smoking all contribute to foot problems and it is important that foot problems such as ulcers are prevented and detected early so they can be treated successfully and reduce the need for amputations.

“Additionally, becoming a specialist vascular centre will ensure that the local population have access to high quality care and treatment with a network of vascular services which will provide modern, comprehensive care 24/7 across the area.”