Chiropody/ Podiatry

Would you trust your hair to someone who set themselves up as a hairdresser but did not have any nationally recognised qualifications? Of course you wouldn’t, even though your hair can regrow! So, at the other end of your body, who would you trust to care for your feet?

Those feet that give you mobility and independence, essential to a good quality of life, as you’ve discovered when you’ve had painful feet. Those same feet that will carry you the equivalent of five times round the Earth during your lifetime.

When you visit a doctor or dentist you do so with confidence in the training that they have received. Surprisingly, however, anyone could call themselves a chiropodist or podiatrist without any qualifications at all but now the government has established the Health Professions Council (HPC). Anyone who wants to use a protected title such as dietitian, occupational therapist, speech therapist, radiographer, chiropodist or podiatrist must register with the HPC to ensure that they meet national standards.

If you have painful foot problems, mobility issues, trouble with your toenails or foot symptoms linked to diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis you can see a podiatrist or chiropodist without being referred by your GP. However, be sure to ask them if they are HPC registered.

If you have access to the internet you can check on-line at

www.hpc-uk.org/register or call the HPC on 020 7582 0866 and they will check for you that your health professional is registered.

Mrs Doreen Beuken BSc DPodM MChS is a Health Professions Council registered Chiropodist / Podiatrist with over 20 years experience of working in the NHS. The profession of podiatry has developed from its origins in chiropody to become a medical speciality dealing with assessment, diagnosis and treatment for the foot and leg.

Initial consultation with treatment 45 mins £26
Follow-up appointments 30 mins £22
OAP follow-up appointments 30 mins £20