AmpuNATION: Striking photography campaign captures the reality of amputations in the UK

Amputations might be hard to look at, but they are much harder to live with. Often caused by underlying health conditions such as diabetes or Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD), the lack of awareness around these conditions and outcomes contributes to the scale of the issue, preventing at-risk people from taking precautionary action.

That’s why we are proud to present AmpuNATION – a photography initiative aiming to raise awareness of PAD and the need for early intervention to reduce the number of amputations.

Photographed by acclaimed British photographer Rankin, AmpuNATION presents a series of poignant portraits of real people living with amputations, capturing the inspiring human stories behind the statistics.

And the statistics are stark; in the UK in 2021, more than 3,000 major lower-limb amputations took place because of conditions like PAD and chronic limb-threatening ischaemia (CLTI), the end-stage form of PAD.¹ Diabetes is also a significant cause of amputations in the UK, despite 80% of foot amputations due to diabetes being preventable through new approaches to earlier intervention.²

Accompanying these images is an Abbott-funded report, written by leading NHS vascular experts, which reveals that the NHS could save more than £8 million a year if the rate of major lower-limb amputations among CLTI index procedures were reduced from 10% to 3% across England and Wales.³

That is why AmpuNATION is not just about raising awareness; it's about advocating for change. We are calling for faster diagnosis and referrals, consistent standards of care, and a clear pathway for those living with PAD. We also need to improve access to new innovations that can reduce the rates of amputations for patients with conditions like CLTI. It is our hope that through these measures, we can help reduce the number of preventable amputations.

At Abbott, we are committed to not just treating diseases, but also improving the quality of life for patients. The impact of amputations extends beyond the physical. It can be devastating and emotional for the patients and their loved ones, with a third of all limb amputees suffering from clinically significant depression.⁴

Professor Athanasios Saratzis, Professor of Vascular Surgery at the University of Leicester, and Royal College of Surgeons Vascular Specialty Lead comments on the report:

“As a treating clinician, I see the devastating impact that amputation has on people. They don't just lose a limb, they lose their confidence, their freedom, autonomy, and many lose the motivation to keep fighting their condition. We must increase awareness, provide timely diagnosis and treatment, and embrace the innovations that can reduce the number of amputations in the NHS.”

To find out more about the initiative and to view the photography, please visit AmpuNATION

References

¹GBD 2019 Peripheral Artery Disease Collaborators. Global burden of peripheral artery disease and its risk factors, 1990–2019: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. Lancet Glob Health. 2023;11 (10):e1553-e1565.

²State of the Nation Report, 2015. Diabetes UK. https://www.diabetes.org.uk/sites/default/files/2017-09/SOTN%20Diabetes_0.pdf

³Saratzis A, et al. Economic impact of limb-salvage strategies in chronic limb-threatening ischaemia: modelling and budget impact study based on national registry data. BJS Open. 2024;8(5):zrae09.

⁴Singh S, et al. The prevalence of depression in people following limb amputation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Psychosom Res. 2024;181:111677.