COVID19 service update:
All new and existing patients (for follow up) are being clinically prioritised. Those at greater risk of ulceration and amputation are prioritised. We are offering clinical face to face appointments as well as remote digital and telephone consultations.
Non urgent and those at reduced risk of amputation or ulceration will have a different offer than the one they previously experienced due to service capacity as a result of enhanced infection control processes.
We provide podiatry (foot) care across the city alongside specialist services for priority groups and those eligible for care as part of a specialist service.
The service provides core podiatry care including:
- Management of damaged or infected nails
- Removal of corns and calluses
- Nail Surgery
Plus specialised clinics involving:
- Patients with Diabetes who have been screened as Moderate or High risk of developing complications
- High risk feet
- Chronic painful skin lesions
- Mental health patients with foot problems
- Adults and children with lower limb pain.
To meet the individual treatment needs of patients, care is personalised and planned. This includes patient empowerment, choice and multi-disciplinary care.
Special support for flat feet, curly toe, growing pain, hypermobility, Osgood-Schlatter's and toe walking is also available for children.
Who's it for?
- People with painful lower limb problems affecting mobility
- People with a medical condition which affects the circulation or nerves to the lower limb or foot e.g. diabetes, stroke and rheumatoid arthritis
- People with a history of falls
- People with painful nail conditions including those requiring nail surgery
- Children and adults requiring a biomechanical examination
Benefits of you attending your local clinic
- The clinic is equipped with specialist treatment and diagnostic equipment that is not available for home visits, so better quality care can be provided.
- You will be sitting on a specially designed chair to ensure you are comfortable during the treatment.
- Podiatry staff can use specialist equipment so they will be less likely to be absent from work with back and upper limb problems.
- You will be able to arrange your clinic appointments to suit your needs.
Change in circumstances
If your situation changes and you are able or unable to attend your local health centre or clinic please contact the podiatry service.
The podiatrist or assistant will review your eligibility for a home visit at each appointment. If you are no longer eligible for a home visit, we will arrange for you to be seen at your local health centre/clinic.
Podiatry Home Visiting Service
Home visiting criteria
Providing care for housebound patients is an important part of our service, however recent research has shown that podiatrists are at greater risk of developing musculo-skeletal disorders, such as back, shoulder, neck, wrist, hand, hip and knee problems. These risks are much greater for staff when providing care in patients own home.
So that we can minimise the risk of injury to our staff and provide you with safe and effective care we need to ensure that they are working in a suitable environment.
Patients eligible for a podiatry home visit
A very limited service is available to patients who are totally housebound. Patients eligible for a home visit by the podiatry service are those who are one or more of the following:
- Persons who are completely bedbound
- Persons who require hoisting in order to be moved or to travel and would become ill if required to travel to a clinic
- Persons deemed on a temporary basis to be clinically too ill to be reasonably expected to travel
We may contact your GP for further information regarding this.
If you feel any of the above apply to you, the podiatrist will be happy to discuss.
Patients who are not eligible for a home visit
You will not be eligible for a home visit, if you are able to go out either by taxi, private car, motorised scooter, bus or use the access bus to visit any of the following:
- GP
- Shops
- Relatives
- Pick up your pension
- Go to the hairdresser/barber
- Go to the Dentist/Optician
- Phlebotomist/Nurse
- Luncheon Clubs
In these circumstances, you will be requested to attend your local health Centre or clinic for your podiatry care.
How to apply for a home visit
If a home visit is requested, a Community Podiatry Service referral form must be completed
