Podiatry

About the podiatry service

The podiatry service is undergoing a programme of transformation as demand for specialist podiatry care is high.

The service does not offer nail care to those who have good circulation and sensation. We provide support for people with foot wounds, foot infections, and foot or ankle pain for adults and children affecting daily activities. In addition we provide nail surgery.

If you require any of the above service offers, please complete the referral form with as much information as possible. We will let you know if you are eligible for an appointment.

What we offer

We provide podiatry (foot) care across the city for priority groups and those eligible for care as part of a specialist service.

The service provides:

treatment that requires specialist scalpel work for those at risk of ulceration or amputation
treatment that requires nail surgery for:
- damaged or infected toe nails
- ingrowing toe nails with or without infection

In addition, we provide specialist clinics for:

people with diabetes who have a risk of developing complications of their feet.
pressure management support for painful deformities and onward referral if needed.
children with foot pain in isolation, changes to their feet or difficulties with their feet.

To meet the individual treatment needs of patients, care is personalised and planned. This includes patient empowerment, choice and multi-disciplinary care.

Referrals

Anyone with a foot problem can refer themselves into the podiatry service by submitting an electronic referral form.

For people unable to attend a clinic, we have a limited service provided in the home. Please read the podiatry home visiting service information for more information. If a home visit is requested, please complete the service referral form and ensure you answer the questions about home visits.

Please download the service referral form to your phone, device (tablet or iPad) or computer. This form should be completed on your device, ready to be attached to an e-mail. To help our clinical team prioritise we also need a photo of your foot problem (if you are able).

Community podiatry service referral form

Once you have completed the form, please email the form and the photo to the Podiatry department on leedscommunitypodiatry@nhs.net

If you have any problems completing or returning the form electronically or would like help, please call the Podiatry Administration team on 0113 8430730.

Please note: We aim to have a maximum waiting time of 18 weeks. To help those most in need, the service will prioritise urgent problems like wounds, infection and disabling pain.

Useful information

Self-management your key to healthy feet

Self-management is central to keeping yourself well. Having the right information and resources available to you will enable you to take care of yourself and your feet.

As part of your self-management, you may wish to get help from your family and friends.

Alternatively, there are many other services outside of the NHS who can help with foot care.

Beauty salons that will provide nail cutting and pedicures.
Foot health professionals.
Podiatrists and chiropodists can be found online, or you may wish to contact the Health Care Professionals Council (HCPC) on
- Phone: 0207 5820866
- Website: HCPC website

People who are also experiencing difficulty with personal care, like tooth brushing or washing and do not have family or friends, can apply for attendance allowance to help.

How to claim attendance allowance

Benefits of you attending your local clinic

The clinic is equipped with specialist treatment and diagnostic equipment that is not available for home visits, so better quality care can be provided.
You will be sitting on a specially designed chair to ensure you are comfortable during the treatment.
Podiatry staff can use specialist equipment so they will be less likely to be absent from work with back and upper limb problems.
You will be able to arrange your clinic appointments to suit your needs.

Change in circumstances

If your situation changes and you are able or unable to attend your local health centre or clinic, please contact the podiatry service.

The podiatrist or assistant will review your eligibility for a home visit at each appointment. If you are no longer eligible for a home visit, we will arrange for you to be seen at your local health centre and clinic.

Podiatry home visiting service

Home visiting criteria

Providing care for housebound patients is an important part of our service, however recent research has shown that podiatrists are at greater risk of developing musculo-skeletal disorders, such as back, shoulder, neck, wrist, hand, hip and knee problems. These risks are much greater for staff when providing care in patients own home.

So that we can minimise the risk of injury to our staff and provide you with safe and effective care we need to ensure that they are working in a suitable environment.

Patients eligible for a podiatry home visit

A very limited service is available to patients who are totally housebound. Patients eligible for a home visit by the podiatry service are those who are one or more of the following:

persons who are completely bedbound
persons who require hoisting in order to be moved or to travel and would become ill if required to travel to a clinic
persons deemed on a temporary basis to be clinically too ill to be reasonably expected to travel

We may contact your GP for further information regarding this.

If you feel any of the above apply to you, the podiatrist will be happy to discuss.

Patients who are not eligible for a home visit

You will not be eligible for a home visit, if you are able to go out either by taxi, private car, motorised scooter, bus or use the access bus to visit any of the following: