Foot Care Service (Podiatry)

We can help you treat and manage conditions and diseases that affect your foot and lower limbs, so that you can stay mobile and prevent any future complications.

How we can help you

Once you’re referred to us, we’ll arrange an appointment with you for an initial assessment.

At your appointment, we’ll do some simple tests and ask you about your symptoms. We might check your arteries for a build-up of fatty deposits (Peripheral Arterial Disease) and any pain related to your nervous system (Neuropathic status).

Where possible, we’ll give you advice about how you can improve your condition. We can also make orthotics or insoles for you, and prescribe you with chair side devices for further support and cushioning.

Depending on your needs, we may recommend further assessments to see how we can best support you or refer you to another service in our hospital if we feel you might benefit from another service.

Symptoms to be aware of

If you notice any of the following symptoms, you must call your local Podiatry Department for advice as soon as possible (within 24 hours). They will assess whether you need a face to face appointment.

We may ask you to send us a photo of your foot to our secure email address.

Is there any new pain, or throbbing?
Does your foot feel hotter than usual?
Are there any new areas of discolouration, inflammation, or swelling?
Is there any discharge?
Is there a new smell from your foot?
Do you have any flu-like symptoms?
Have you noticed a rash?
Are you becoming breathless?
Is your body temperature above 38.3ºC (101ºF), or below 36ºC (96ºF)?

If you have any new breaks in the skin, or blisters, cover them with a sterile dressing. Do not burst any blisters that form.

Biomechanical and Musculoskeletal assessments

If you have a short or long term condition that’s causing you pain or discomfort in your lower legs and feet, we may do a biomechanical or musculoskeletal assessment. This means we’ll look at how you move, and how your lower limbs work.

We may also provide this service for children with development problems, or if you have a sports injury.

We’ll look at your feet, legs and body position while you’re sitting, walking (gait analysis) and holding items. We’ll also check your muscle strength and range of movement.

If your condition is caused by an imbalance in the way you move, we may recommend different types of treatment, such as:

If we do arrange this assessment with you, you should bring a few pairs of worn shoes and any prescribed orthotics or insoles to help us understand your condition better.

Long term condition management

If you have a long term condition, such as diabetes which may cause a change in the nervous system in your feet (Neuropathy) or poor circulation in your feet and leg pain because of fatty deposits in your arteries (Peripheral Arterial Disease), we can help you maintain your mobility and healthy tissue.

We can also support you if you have a history of foot ulcerations.

We’ll guide you on different techniques so that you can self-manage your condition, and how you can help prevent a serious foot condition developing.

Unfortunately, you’re not eligible for this service if you have a low risk of foot problems caused by diabetes.

Broken skin (ulcer) and wound care

If you have damaged skin and wounds on your feet, such as ulcers or ulcerations, we can provide you with specialist care.

We’ll work closely with our other teams to make sure that we’re treating all the possible causes of your foot problems and prevent it from happening again.

If you’ve got diabetes and you notice a break in the skin on your feet, you should contact your nearest Podiatry clinic or your GP.

Accessing our service

To access our service, you’ll need to be referred through to our service by your healthcare professional, such as your GP.

If you have an urgent foot condition such as an open wound or an active infection, you can self-refer by emailing one of our teams. We’ll then send you a referral form to complete

If you’re housebound, we can assess you for a home visit to make sure you get the treatment you need.

Our guides

If you’re able to do so safely, or you have someone in your household who can help you, file your nails to help prevent any damage from long or thick nails.

Read our Caring for your feet leaflet (pdf)

Read our Alternative treatment leaflet (pdf)