Swansea Podiatry Project Cuts Vascular Waits to Two Weeks 2026

Key Points

• A podiatry-based project run in Swansea Bay area has cut waiting time for patients with suspected PAD down to two weeks from two years previously.
• Podiatry Vascular Cluster Model has been designed by the City Health Local Cluster Collaborative (LCC) and is among nominees for the NHS Wales Timely Care Award on the upcoming NHS Wales Awards.
• Of 131 patients assessed in the cluster pilot project, 89% have been dealt with according to the new model without needing to consult hospital vascular team.
• Meanwhile, review of the hospital vascular waiting list included identification of 613 patients who might be suitable for podiatry-led assessment; nearly 300 patients could be discharged from the list as a result.
• This is because the model allows for direct access to advanced podiatrist, diagnostic testing and prompt clinical decisions, along with fast referral to a specialist if necessary.
• Besides that, patients have been provided with preventive measures, including cardiovascular risk screening for atrial fibrillation and hypertension and smoking cessation counseling.
• According to Swansea Bay University Health Board, the project is currently being tested in another cluster.
• Winners of NHS Wales Awards will be announced in several days in Cardiff.

Swansea (Wales Times) November 3, 2026 — A community-based podiatry project has received national recognition after cutting waiting times of up to two years to just two weeks for patients with suspected peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a condition in which narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs.

The initiative, known as the Podiatry Vascular Cluster Model, was initially developed within the City Health Local Cluster Collaborative. It has now been shortlisted in the NHS Wales Timely Care Award category at this year’s NHS Wales Awards.

According to uk/local/swansea/">Swansea Bay University Health Board, data collected by the podiatry team identified long waits in the Swansea Bay area that could lead to avoidable deterioration in patients’ condition. In response, podiatrists worked with the cluster to redesign the care pathway and establish a single community-based rapid-access point for assessment, definitive diagnosis and escalation.

What Is the Podiatry Vascular Cluster Model?

The model gives patients direct access to advanced podiatrists, point-of-care diagnostics and immediate clinical decision-making. Swansea Bay University Health Board says patients benefit from quicker triage, earlier diagnosis and faster escalation to specialist services where clinically necessary.

The service was designed for people with PAD, which can reduce blood flow to the legs. The health board describes PAD as a significant and under-recognised condition, particularly among people living with long-term conditions such as diabetes.

As reported by Swansea Bay University Health Board, Sally Bloomfield, the health board’s Head of Podiatry, Orthotics, Persistent Pain and Artificial Limb and Appliance Service, said delays in definitive diagnosis and intervention could result in preventable harm, including ulceration, amputation and cardiovascular events.

What Results Did the Cluster Pilot Achieve?

The pilot reviewed 131 patients within the City Health cluster. Of those, 89% were managed through the new podiatry-led model and did not require referral to the hospital-based vascular team.

Swansea Bay University Health Board says the project enabled the team to see, or offer, all patients a vascular assessment and onward plan within two weeks. It compares this with historical waits of up to two years.

Sally Bloomfield said the results showed that most patients could be safely managed within the cluster podiatry-led service, with only a small proportion requiring a hospital referral. She said the testing also demonstrated improved triage accuracy, reduced diagnostic uncertainty and more appropriate use of specialist services where needed.

How Did the Project Affect the Hospital Waiting List?

Alongside the cluster project, the podiatry service reviewed the hospital vascular waiting list. Swansea Bay University Health Board says the review identified 613 patients who were potentially appropriate for podiatry-led review, highlighting an opportunity to reduce unnecessary demand and delays.

Using the cluster-based model, almost 300 patients could be removed from the list. Instead, they received a diagnosis and relevant signposting through a non-medically led pathway, which the health board says helped improve capacity.

The pilot appointments, as well as the vascular waiting-list element, used Singleton Hospital’s podiatry clinic. A number of community-based settings were also used, allowing more patients to be seen closer to home.

Why Was Early Assessment Considered Important?

The health board says demand on secondary care had created fragmented pathways, causing prolonged waits and leading some patients to attend the Emergency Department, thereby increasing demand across the system.

Sally Bloomfield said the team felt the pathway needed redesigning to improve access, reduce delays and support proactive identification and early intervention. She described the approach as a shift from reactive care to preventative care within a community setting.

Through funding from City Health LCC, the service created the single community access point. The health board says this enabled timely decision-making and faster access to assessment, diagnosis and treatment closer to patients’ homes.

What Did Clinicians Say About the Project?

As reported by Swansea Bay University Health Board, Sally Bloomfield said the project demonstrated that redesigning pathways, rather than adding capacity, could transform vascular care and improve cardiovascular outcomes.

She said podiatry was uniquely placed to provide first-contact expert assessment of lower-limb vascular symptoms, definitive diagnosis, self-management support, treatment recommendations and signposting where required.

She added that earlier detection of high-risk patients, including those with undiagnosed PAD and cardiovascular risk, prevented progression and reduced demand on both secondary and primary care.

Speaking about the shortlisting, Bloomfield said the achievement reflected the dedication and collaboration of teams and partners in delivering innovative, patient-centred care. She also thanked City Health Cluster colleagues for supporting the pilot phase, which she said had generated evidence to inform the future provision and sustainability of the approach.

What Preventative Support Did Patients Receive?

Dr David Howell, City Health LCC lead and GP partner at Kingsway Surgery, said the project enabled patients with suspected PAD or concerns about their peripheral circulation, identified by their GP, to be assessed quickly by the specialist vascular podiatry team.

According to Swansea Bay University Health Board, patients also benefited from wider preventative interventions. These included cardiovascular risk-factor screening for conditions such as atrial fibrillation and hypertension, as well as smoking cessation advice.

Dr Howell said these interventions were particularly valuable because patients would otherwise have faced waiting times of more than 12 months to see the vascular consultant team. He said early assessment and intervention helped patients access appropriate care sooner while reducing unnecessary onward referrals and contributing to a significant reduction in overall vascular waiting times.

What Happens Next for the Project?

Due to the project’s success, it is now being trialled in another Swansea Bay cluster.

The team must now wait until later this month, when the winners of this year’s NHS Wales Awards will be announced at an event in Cardiff.

Swansea Bay University Health Board says the recognition highlights the potential impact of integrated, community-based vascular services and the value of advanced podiatric practice as a safe and effective alternative to traditional referral pathways.

Background of the Development

Peripheral arterial disease occurs when narrowed arteries reduce blood flow to the legs. Swansea Bay University Health Board identifies it as a condition that can be under-recognised, particularly among people with long-term conditions such as diabetes, and says delays in diagnosis and treatment can contribute to ulceration, amputation and cardiovascular events.

The Podiatry Vascular Cluster Model emerged from work within the City Health Local Cluster Collaborative, with funding from the cluster supporting the creation of a single community access point. The service combined advanced podiatry assessment, point-of-care diagnostics and rapid clinical decision-making, while retaining escalation routes to hospital-based vascular specialists for patients who needed them.

Prediction: How Could This Affect Patients and NHS Services?

For patients in Swansea Bay and potentially other Welsh communities, the development could mean earlier access to vascular assessment, a diagnosis closer to home and faster referral to specialist care when required. The reported reduction from waits of up to two years to two-week access may also reduce the risk of preventable complications for people with suspected PAD.

For the wider NHS, the project suggests that podiatry-led community pathways could relieve pressure on hospital vascular services by managing suitable patients locally and removing some patients from waiting lists. If the model continues to produce similar results in the second cluster trial, it may inform future planning of community-based vascular care, although its wider effectiveness will depend on further implementation and evaluation.