Skip to content
Home » Services » Services A-Z » Allied Health Professionals (AHPs) » Podiatry

Podiatry

What is podiatry?

Podiatry is a medical sub-speciality that provides assessment, diagnosis and treatment for patients of all ages who suffer with foot or lower limb conditions.

Podiatrists can work as autonomous clinicians, but are also integral member of the multidisciplinary team, working closely with consultants, nurses and other allied health professionals.

The service is needs-led, seeking to support, educate and enable self-management where appropriate. Our aim is to enable our patients to regain independence, reduce pain and improve their quality of life.

All our podiatrists are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) who ensure staff meet specific standards for ongoing training and professional behaviour.

Our services

  • Wound management and prevention
  • Vascular assessment and pathology management
  • Diabetes multi-disciplinary care
  • Toenail surgery
  • General podiatry
  • Electro surgery
  • Foot health education and falls prevention

Referral form

North Ayrshire – click here to download

South Ayrshire – click here to download

East Ayrshire – click here to download

High risk feet

Poor blood supply (ischaemia) and nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) to the feet pose an increased risk of developing a foot ulcer, where healing can be compromised and may precede amputation or be life threatening, especially in cases complicated by wound infection. We therefore define this presentation as being “high risk”.
Less than five per cent of the diabetic population are recognised as having high risk feet. Additionally, conditions such as peripheral arterial disease, severe renal disease and many neurological conditions all equate to high risk foot status and care will be prioritised accordingly.

Urgent foot conditions

Conditions that qualify as requiring urgent podiatry care:

  • Red, hot swollen toe/foot
  • A new active ulcer/wound on the foot
  • Foot infection (except fungal)
  • Infected painful ingrown toenail
  • New or unexplained pain where you are unable to mobilise

The service will prioritise those individuals known to have high risk feet when the above symptoms present. 

Musculoskeletal (MSK) podiatry 

A specialist area of the service that focuses on managing adults and children who have pain from structural or functional problems with their legs and feet. This may include pain that arises from abnormal walking or running patterns, or could be from an isolated injury. MSK Podiatry works closely with other services including orthotics, physiotherapy, orthopaedics and rheumatology.

What to expect at your appointment

Appointments may be face to face, telephone consultations or through Near Me which is a video consultation which you can conduct from home computer or smart phone. We will triage your referral to decide which format would be most appropriate for your needs.

The service provides most of its face to face appointments in a clinical setting but for patients who are completely housebound and require a face to face treatment, a domiciliary service is provided.

At your appointment, the podiatrist will carry out a full assessment of your foot condition which will include questioning around your lifestyle choices and daily routine.  Our focus is to develop a realistic treatment plan in partnership with yourself/family/carer in an effort to achieve the best outcome possible for you.

In many cases we will provide a short courses of treatment to support, educate and enable self management then discharge when appropriate.   Please feel free to bring someone with you to your appointment if you feel would be beneficial.

If you have a foot ulcer and have an underlying condition that may compromise healing, we may ask to attend our multi-disciplinary foot clinic at one of our hospital sites, so we can join up care with our diabetes, vascular, orthopaedic and orthotics colleagues.

How to access this service

If you have an urgent foot problem as detailed above, your GP Practice, district nurse or other health care professional can refer you to podiatry on an urgent basis.
If you are known to our service and you have an urgent foot problem you can contact the AHP Podiatry Hub by telephone.

The podiatry service is available to all ages. However, please note, we are unable to offer a simple nail cutting or basic footcare service in line with the 2013 Personal Footcare guidance launched by the Scottish Government which states that this can no longer be provided by NHS Podiatry services except in a small number of cases where eligible patients meet specific criteria.

Pressure ulcers

Podiatrists have a key role in preventing and managing pressure ulcers in line with national pressure ulcer standards. We recognise that pressure damage can be painful and can limit mobility. It is also known to prolong hospital stays and can negatively impact on overall quality of life. Our service focus is to identify individuals at risk of developing damage, provide appropriate pressure relieving equipment and work with our patients, families and carers to prevent damage occurring.  

Read information on preventing pressure ulcers.

Students

NHS Ayrshire & Arran Podiatry Service is dedicated to supporting students undertaking clinical placements. All students work under the supervision of our specialist staff trained as clinical educators.

Falls prevention

Useful Links