Foot care services

Keeping our feet healthy is important for us to be able to maintain our mobility and move around comfortably. Sometimes, however, our feet need additional attention and care.

In the NHS the person who provides this care is known as a podiatrist. They take care of the physical condition of the feet by treating many foot conditions. This may include ingrown toenails, corns and callous, infections and ulcers. They can also provide shoe inserts to reduce pain and improve mobility.

A podiatrist can also give advice on how to manage your foot condition so that you can look after them yourself of with the help of your carer.

The Podiatry Service (or your may know this as the Chiropody Service), aims to help patients to keep independent by providing advice, education, treatment or specialist referral in order to help reduce foot pain and to maintain or improve the health of feet.

This service is usually provided in GP surgeries or health centres. However, if you are housebound or live in a residential home you may be able to receive a home visit. There are also specialist services based in local hospitals.

Eligibility criteria

People who are definitely eligible to be assessed by a podiatrist are:

• diabetic patients who have high-risk feet e.g. current or a history of foot ulceration
• patients who have either ulceration or bacterial infection of the feet including ingrown toenails

The following people may be eligible to be assessed by a podiatrist if they have:

• poor circulation
• loss of sensation neuropathy of the feet
• painful foot (podiatric) conditions
• painful problems with movement problems eg plantar fasciitis
• rheumatism
• immuno suppressed condition(s)

The following people may not be eligible to be assessed by a podiatrist if they are:

• diabetics who are classed as low risk - those who have a good blood supply, including good nerve sensation who have no podiatry needs.
• diabetics who are classed as having an increased risk and who have no foot (podiatry) problems.
• patients who need nail care and who do not have poor circulation and/or loss of sensation neuropathy of the feet

How to get an appointment

You need to be referred to the service by your doctor or another healthcare professional.