Podiatrists specialise conditions affecting the foot, ankle and leg, leading the patient through their care journey including prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Podiatry is the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the lower limbs. The professionals providing the service are called Podiatrists (formally known as Chiropodists).
All Podiatrists are trained to degree level and are registered with the regulatory body known as the Health Care and Professions Council (HCPC).
Locally, our Podiatrists work in a variety of clinical settings including hospitals, health centres and GP practices.
The main purpose of our Podiatry service is to provide a comprehensive service for adults and children. The services we provide include:
This list is by no means exhaustive. The Podiatry service will offer a foot assessment service for anyone referred to the service with a genuine podiatric need (at this current time Podiatry are not commissioned to provide social nail care).
The community Podiatry service is only able to accept referrals from persons registered with a Wakefield GP.
The Podiatry service does accept self-referrals from patients requiring nail surgery, musculoskeletal medicine, and wound management for example.
The service does not accept referrals to provide nail cutting, the management of fungal toenails or verrucae for example.
We would ask healthcare professionals with access to SystmOne to complete a referral for the service via this system which is the fastest option.
Podiatry self-referral form for printing:
The Podiatry service is predominantly a community-based service with the majority of clinics held in health centers or GP practices in the Wakefield District.
Patients with diabetes who require input from the diabetes team will be seen at either Pinderfields or Pontefract Diabetes centres. Those that have been deemed to have a musculoskeletal problem will be seen at Normanton Health Centre. Patients with arthropathies who require input from the Rheumatology team may be seen at either Pinderfields, Pontefract or Dewsbury Hospitals.
For general patients registered with a GP in the Dewsbury area, this will require a referral direct to the Locala Podiatry Service.
We deliver a range of Podiatric services offering specialist advice and/or treatments from a number of community health centres and GP practice locations within the Wakefield district.
These include:
Wakefield community clinic locations include:
Other locations to the eastern side of Wakefield include:
Patient access is via a referral from a registered NHS healthcare professional. For example:
Alternatively, self-referrals can be accepted directly from prospective patients. Patients must be registered with a Wakefield GP in order to be eligible to submit a self-referral for assessment/treatment by the Mid Yorkshire Teaching Trust Community Podiatry service.
Our service provides specialist advice and treatment of a variety of problems affecting the foot. This includes:
Patients can be referred for the diagnosis, advice and/or management of a variety of foot and ankle pathologies.
For example:
We do not however provide routine nail care for medically fit patients or social nailcare.
The whole experience was great from start to finish, very professional, made you feel very comfortable.
The assessment of my foot was very thorough. A diagnosis was made and I was given a support for my foot which immediately reduced the pain, allowing me to walk.
Chloe, Registered Nurse
I love nursing and my job in A&E. Being there at a time of need is so important, as you never know if that may be the last thing they remember. I love the teamwork in the nursing community; we always lift each other up.
Podiatrists work both independently and as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT), e.g. Diabetes.
Onward referrals/links to other services
As part of your treatment journey, you may be referred directly or via your GP for additional tests, e.g. X-rays, ultrasound.
or
To other services/healthcare professionals, e.g. a Podiatric Surgeon, Rheumatology Podiatrist or Physiotherapy if needed.
Please find below a list of organisations that you may find useful.