Ellie Lindsay OBE: The opening of Pisa Leg Club

Ladies, gentlemen and eminent guests. Personally, due to the global COVID-19 situation and government travel restrictions here in the UK, I am sadly unable to join you in person to celebrate this special ceremony. Before I go any further I would like to take the opportunity to express my sincere thanks to Professor Marco Romanelli, Giulia D'Arvini, and the clinical team for their time and commitment to opening the first Italian non-medical social leg club here in Italy. Their endurance to changing practice required a collaborative approach where people from many different parts of the professional and community organizations contributed to the creation and implementation of person-centred care. Health and wellbeing are important for our quality of life and independence. The introduction of the PISA psychosocial leg club model has been achieved through the commitment and motivation of clinicians and the community in PISA working together. to their success was the involvement of the community they serve, which I'm sure has been a challenge during these social distancing times, is admirable and extremely creative. Whilst addressing the social isolation that often comes with conditions of the lower limb, I'm sure over time the Icapucini leg club will demonstrate its effectiveness in not one but four ways. Clinical effectiveness, cost effectiveness, patient satisfaction and well-being by demonstrating a deeper understanding of their leg club members health status, recognising their social, psychological and emotional needs and sharing of the true meaning that treatment has on personal experiences of living with a wound. It is an honour and humbling to be able to participate, albeit virtual, and to be among such illustrious colleagues present here celebrating the official opening of this relationship is greatly valued. Thank you.