Description

The Health Professions Council (HPC) has outlined standards for all chiropodists and podiatrists to achieve to remain on the professional register. The preferred term podiatrist reflects a wider scope of practice than chiropodist and podiatrists must now be qualified at honours degree level or equivalent in Podiatric Medicine.

Older people account for almost 86% of podiatry clinical time and so most services are increasingly stretched due to changing demography. Common problems such as corns, callus, ulcers and nail pathology cause pain, reduce mobility and increase the risk of falls. Podiatrists improve foot health, mobility and quality of life by diagnosing and managing disorders of the foot, leg and gait. Specialist, advanced and consultant podiatrists have extended their role, some may even prescribe, and doctors referral is no longer needed.

Podiatrists are key clinicians within the falls prevention team, using detailed history, vascular and neurological assessment, and gait analysis to determine contributing factors to falls. In many medical conditions predisposing to foot ulceration such as diabetes, rheumatic disorders and peripheral vascular disease, podiatrists are key in wound management. Podiatric biomechanics is a specialism concerned with foot function and locomotion involving orthoses for repositioning or pressure redistribution. Footwear is a common contributor to falls and foot pathology in older age and part of a podiatrists assessment includes that of patients footwear to compliment the podiatry treatment. As well as core podiatry care, a wide range of nail surgery has been developed to a high level of sophistication using phenolisation techniques and local anaesthesia.

The scope of modern podiatry is broad, including diagnosis and management with a range of medical and surgical interventions. The overall aim is maintenance of health and mobility via responsive, appropriately targeted services which utilise clinical skills effectively.