Aim

Is there a more cost-effective method for performing lower-limb vascular assessment when comparing traditional Ankle Brachial Pressure Index (ABPI) with BlueDop?

Methods

We reviewed the UK national database provided by the Agenda for Change framework and chose a mid-band salary to provide us a conservative cost per clinician: £50/hour(1). We then reviewed a number of clinical papers and observed that the range in time for a traditional ABPI (including rest) was 20-30 minutes(2). Following our conservative model and reducing bias, we decided to opt for 20 minutes as our standard of care time. All participants received a BlueDop vascular assessment at their routine appointment, following standardised guidelines.

Results

BlueDop Rapid average assessment time (rest time not required):

Single leg: 1 minute (average time of 205 single limbs)

Both legs: 3 minutes (average time of 76 bilateral limbs)

Cost Per Assessment

Traditional ABPI: -

20 minutes = 0.33 hours

Cost per patient: £16.50

BlueDop Assessment: -

Single leg 1 min = 0.017 hrs

Cost per patient: £0.85

Both legs 3 min = 0.05 hrs

Cost per patient:  £2.50

 

Per-Patient Saving

Assessment Type	Traditional	Rapid	Saving	Reduction
Single leg	£16.50	£0.85	£15.65	95%
Both legs	£16.50	£2.50	£14.00	85%

 

 

 

 

Annual Service Impact

	Average Annual Assessments per clinic	Annual Clinician Time Saving	National Saving (4.6million diagnosed diabetics(3))
Single-Leg	2,000	£31,300	£71.99 million (≈ £72.0m)
Bilateral-Legs	2,000	£28,000	£64.4 million

 

Conclusion

Implementing BlueDop into a High-Risk Foot clinic not only had a substantial impact on time savings, which translated into increased clinical capacity. Using BlueDop as a first-line assessment and rapid triage tool led to NICE Guidance 19(4) compliance and cost avoidance achieved without the addition of extra staff.

 

References

1. NHS Employers. Pay scales for 2025/26 [Internet]. London: NHS Employers; 2024 [cited 2025 Dec 3]. Available from: https://www.nhsemployers.org/articles/pay-scales-202526
2. Ma J, Liu M, Chen D, Wang C, Liu G, Ran X. The validity and reliability between automated Oscillo metric measurement of ankle-brachial index and standard measurement by eco-Doppler in diabetic patients with or without diabetic foot. Int J Endocrinol. 2017.
3. Diabetes UK. Diabetes Statistics [Internet]. London: Diabetes UK; 2023 [cited 2026 Jan 16]. Available from: https://www.diabetes.org.uk/about-us/about-the-charity/our-strategy/statistics
4. National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Diabetic foot problems: prevention and management. NICE guideline NG19 [Internet]. London: NICE; 2015 [cited 2026 Jan 16]. Available from: Recommendations | Diabetic foot problems: prevention and management | Guidance | NICE