Podiatry: Podiatry service

Podiatrists are members of the Allied Health Care Professional community. We work alongside a variety of health care professionals including district nurses, GPs and other doctors, orthotists and many more. All Podiatrists must be registered with the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC) who govern and maintain the standards we work to. A Podiatrist’s main goal is to improve our patients’ mobility, independence, and quality of life, by a variety of treatments and specialities. Podiatrists can diagnose, manage, rehabilitate and prevent complications of the foot, ankle and lower limb.

 The Podiatrists working for the Trust offer packages of care for certain foot conditions including ingrowing toenails, painful corns and biomechanical problems (the way your foot works when walking) such as heel pain or flat foot. Some patients will be offered lifelong care, this includes patients with or at high risk of developing open wounds such as ulcers on their feet.  If you need a Podiatrist you can self-refer or ask your GP or other health care professional to refer you. We are no longer able to provide a nail cutting service except for those patients with the highest risk of developing foot complications.                                                               

We work in a variety of settings including community hospitals, health centres, and GP practices. Our four hub sites are located at Flatt Walks Health Centre in Whitehaven, North Carlisle Medical Centre, Penrith Health Centre, and Workington Community Hospital.

Home visit appointments will only be offered in exceptional circumstances, if a patient is unable to leave their home. Hospital transport may be available for patients with transport difficulties.

If a patient is not eligible, they can contact the Royal College of Podiatry to find the Health and Care Professions Council registered private podiatrists in their local area. Alternatively, Age UK may be able to offer assistance. See below for contact details for these services. Patients will need to pay for this treatment but may be eligible for Attendance Allowance which can be used to pay for the treatment.

Useful information

Royal College of Podiatry

https://rcpod.org.uk/find-a-podiatrist#FIND.PODIATRIST

Telephone: 020 7234 8620

Age UK

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/westcumbria/our-services/footcare/

Telephone: 08443 843 843

Health and Care Professions Council

https://www.hcpc-uk.org/check-the-register/

Podiatry contact details

Confidentiality

‘The Trust’s vision is to keep your information safe in our hands.’ We promise to use your information fairly and legally, and in-line with local and national policies. You have a right to understand how your information is used and you can request a copy of the information we hold about you at any time.

For further information on confidentiality contact the Information Governance Team:

Information.Governance@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 603961

Feedback

We appreciate and encourage feedback, which helps us to improve our services. If you have any comments, compliments or concerns to make about your care, please contact the Patient, Advice & Liaison Service:

pals@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 814008 or 01946 523818

If you would like to raise a complaint regarding your care, please contact the Complaints Department:

complaints@ncic.nhs.uk | 01228 936302