Welcome to the Feet in Focus website, we do hope we are able to assist you with your healthcare requirements and provide a prompt appointment convenient to your needs
If you are a new patient to our clinic or have never seen a podiatrist before you may have a few questions about podiatry and what is involved.
Podiatry or podiatric medicine is a branch of medicine devoted to the study of diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower extremity. Essentially a podiatrist (also known as a chiropodist in the UK) is an allied health professional who specialises in the treatment of the lower extremity, particularly the foot.
Registration
All new patients to our practice will need to fill in our new patient registration form, supply contact details, GP’s name and address and if relevant medical insurance information. The form is available for download by clicking below, the form can be edited and emailed directly to us.
Feet in Focus Registration Form.
In order to provide the best possible care to you we need to gain a full understanding of your current and past medical history and medication. Being able to see the whole picture of your health and needs allows our podiatrists to provide the most suitable treatment tailored to your exact needs.
Please feel free to complete our registration form and medical questionnaire before you attend, the benefits of doing this are it allows you plenty of time to consider your past and current medical history and also to list all your current medication
If you do not wish to print the form out in advance please arrive 10 minutes early for your first appointment to complete the necessary forms.
What to Expect
When you arrive you will be greeted by our receptionist, after providing your full registration and medical details you will be called into the treatment room by the podiatrist who will be providing your care, who will introduce themselves.
You will then be asked to explain the reason for making your appointment.
Your podiatrist will then ask you to remove your shoes, socks or hosiery; if you are attending for one of our extended postural assessment such as our biomechanical assessment you will be asked to change into more suitable clothing such as shorts or leggings and a t- shirt.
Our podiatrist will assess your feet, (posture and gait, if necessary), discuss and provide any treatment that is recommended. If ongoing treatment is needed this will be discussed and a treatment estimate will be provided, depending on your concern, exercises can be issued to perform at home between treatments. Verbal and written aftercare instructions are often given which will allow you to maintain your feet in optimal condition following your treatment.
What to Expect on your first appointment
When you arrive you will be greeted by our receptionist, after providing your full registration and medical details you will be called into the treatment room by the podiatrist who will be providing your care and who will introduce themselves.
You will then be asked to explain the reason for making your appointment.
Your podiatrist will then ask you to remove your shoes, socks or hosiery; if you are attending for one of our extended postural assessments such as our biomechanical assessment you will be asked to change into more suitable clothing such as shorts or leggings and a t- shirt (in the privacy of a treatment room).
Our podiatrist will assess your feet, (posture and gait, if necessary), discuss and provide any treatment that is recommended. If ongoing treatment is needed this will be discussed and a treatment estimate will be provided. Depending on your concern exercises can be issued to perform at home between treatments. Verbal and written aftercare instructions are often given, which will allow you to maintain your feet in optimal condition following your treatment.
Arriving for your appointment
Please try to arrive on time for your appointment, you are welcome to arrive early and make use of our tea and coffee making facilities which are free to all our patients. If you arrive late for your appointment the time of your treatment session may be reduced if we have other patients scheduled after your appointment. If you arrive later than 10 minutes for your scheduled appointment you may be refused treatment if there is not sufficient time to carry out the treatment and even charged for the wasted surgery time.
FAQ
Do I need a referral to attend?
If you are self funding your treatment you do not require any form of referral however, we do receive a large number of referrals from GPs, physiotherapists, other podiatrists and consultants and any additional information from your referrer is always welcome.
If your treatment is being funded by your health insurance company it is always best to check with them if a referral is required, some policies allow for a GP referral and some require a consultant referral. Please note most insurance companies normally require a consultant referral if you wish to attend for a biomechanical assessment
Is the treatment likely to hurt?
As a general rule the majority of our treatments do not cause pain, however if our podiatrists suspect a treatment will cause discomfort this will be discussed with you before the treatment is carried out and measures can be taken to reduce the discomfort. For example if a patient attends with a painful ingrowing toenail, the patient and podiatrist can choose to use a local anaesthetic before the ingrowing nail is removed, this is not always necessary though.
Is Podiatry regulated?
In the UK Podiatrist are regulated by the Health & Care Professions Council (HCPC), all podiatrists wishing to remain registered with the HCPC must adhere to strict professional standards and participate in a program of continual professional development which can include courses and conferences relevant to their field of work. For example Our principal podiatrist Mathew Vaughan has completed post graduate training in acupuncture, steroid injections, expert witness assessment and reporting and pharmacology to name but a few.
Are all podiatrists qualified to the same standard?
Currently in order to become a registered podiatrist individuals must complete a 3-4 year degree in podiatry or podiatric medicine, although many highly respected and experienced podiatrists may have entered the profession from completing diploma programs.
What type of appointment should I request?
As a general rule the simpler foot problems such as nail complaints, corns, verrucae and cracked or hard skin can be assessment and treated during a 30 minute routine podiatry session. More complex problems such as postural, muscle, joint pain or sporting injuries will usually require a minimum of a 30 minute consultation or a biomechanical assessment. Information on our full range of treatments and services can be seen by selecting treatments and services on the top menu.
