A Podiatrist is a health professional who helps to make sure your feet are healthy and pain-free to allow you to be active. They work with you to help solve your feet and leg problems, specialising in the prevention and diagnoses of a range of issues that affect the feet and lower limbs. We listen to patients, offer them choice, and involve them as much as possible in decisions about their future care. All our podiatrists are dedicated professionals who are registered with the Health and Care Profession Council (HCPC).
What is podiatry?
Podiatry is the study of foot and lower limb health. Our service aims to promote good foot health to help sustain mobility and reduce pain.
Services
NHS Fife Podiatry Service is open to everyone who lives in Fife, who has a podiatric need that we can help with. We maximise mobility by offering treatment and advice that reflect the patient's needs. These sessions specialise in the treatment of skin, orthopaedic, vascular, and neurological conditions. Health promotion and foot health advice are offered.
The service has specialist podiatrists who offer podiatric treatment in the areas of:
- General Podiatry
- Diabetes
- Musculo-skeletal (MSK)
- Learning Disabilities
- Rheumatology
- Children and Young People
- Nail Surgery
We regularly help people with:
Management of acute foot conditions such as foot ulceration and foot infections
- Treatment of ulcers and non-healing wounds
- Provision of foot pressure reduction devices to support healing
- Prescribing medicine
Surgical removal of ingrowing toenails
- Treatment of ingrowing toenails
- Prescribing of antibiotics
- Provision of nail surgery
Management of musculoskeletal foot and ankle conditions such as muscle, tendon, and joint disorders. (For example, painful walking, structural problems, arthritis, injuries and pressure areas in the foot.)
- Self management advice
- Biomechanical assessment
- Exercise therapy
- Steroid injections
- Provision of insoles and orthotics
- Other therapies such as shockwave and laser therapy
- Podiatry surgery of the foot, working as part of orthopaedic teams
Offer preventative treatment to prevent hard skin and corns to those people who are at risk of foot ulceration for example
- Reduction of corns and callus
- Surgical removal of foot lesions
- Insole and orthotic provision and other foot pressure reduction devices.
- Footwear - advise
- Diabetes foot assessment and care planning
- Diabetes foot assessment and care planning
Circulation and vascular assessment
Assessment of painful lesions that stopping you from walking , providing an initial treatment
What we don't treat
- Toe nail cutting
- Fungal skin and nail treatment – can offer advice on medication but not regular treatment.
- Regular corn and hard skin reduction for people who are not at risk of foot ulceration.
- Regular treatment for skin conditions such as athlete’s foot – can provide advice but not regular treatment.
- Verrucae treatment (not painful and less than 2 years).
Toe nail cutting service
Fife Voluntary action provide a toe nail cutting service at an affordable cost in variety of locations across Fife. For more information on how to contact the service please see: Footcare Fife (fva.org)