What is a Foot Health Practitioner?

A Foot Health Practitioner is a professional clinician who works with patients to maintain the healthy state of the foot and treats all common conditions that can affect your feet and prevent you from leading the life you want to lead.

Routine maintenance such as nail cutting and removal of hard skin for those who have difficulty in reaching their feet, but also treating corns, calluses, painful verrucae, foot and nail infections, ingrowing toe nails, etc.

What will happen during my first appointment?

During your initial appointment a full medical history will be taken. This will be followed by a routine foot assessment. A management plan for any presenting foot condition will be discussed in full, including any additional costs. At the end of the treatment the feet will be massaged and advice given as to their future care.

Approximate time: 45-60 mins.

Follow-up treatment appointments consists of a routine foot health assessment followed by a discussion regarding your presenting condition and the proposed treatment. Treatment will be followed by a foot massage.

Approximate time: 30-60 mins.

How often should I see my foot care practitioner?

As a general rule every 6-8 weeks. However, it depends on the condition you are being treated for. If you are seeing your foot care practitioner for routine nail cut and removal of hard skin, every 6 weeks if advised. If you have more in-depth conditions, your foot care practitioner will discuss with you your individual foot care plan.

Do you treat patients with Diabetes?

Yes, I am trained in the care and maintenance of patience who have been diagnosed with Diabetes.

Do you treat patients on Blood Thinners?

Yes, I Am trained and insured to provide foot care and maintenance of patients on Blood Thinners.

What is the difference between a Foot Health Practitioner, a Chiropodist and a Podiatrist?

Foot Health Practitioners and Podiatrists both have important roles to play in the community.

Nowadays there are fewer Chiropodists in the community. In 2005/6 the terms Chiropodist/Chiropody/Podiatrist/Podiatry became “protected” following government legislation. This meant that the schools that used to train Chiropodists then had to re-name their graduates, so from mid-2004 on wards the Foot Health Practitioner came into existence!

Foot Health Practitioners provide the routine foot care that the majority of people require on a regular basis i.e. Toenail Trimming, Ingrown Toenails (that do not require surgery), Corns, Calluses, Fungal Infections, Verrucae, Diabetics (who have their condition under control), etc. They are privately trained (i.e. self-funded) to diploma level. Some Foot Health Practitioners undertake post-graduate studies to qualify in bio-mechanics, Cryo-surgery etc. and some even go on to undertake Podiatry degrees.

Podiatrists provide care to lower limb for “at risk” patients i.e. Diabetics whose condition is out of control, surgical procedures, biomechanics, etc. Very often a Podiatrist will specialise in particular area. They can also provide the more routine foot care that the Foot Health Practitioner provides. They are trained and funded within the NHS and trained to degree level. They are registered with the Health and Care Professional Council (HCPC).

Foot Health Practitioners do have the option to register with the Accredited Register of Foot Health Practitioners which is overseen by the Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care (who also oversee the HCPC).