NHS chiropody

A question about : NHS chiropody

Is this free for the over 60s?

I know that we can't get a bus pass now until state pension age and wondered if the chiropody had gone the same way.

Best answers:

• It depends. See here.
  What I suspect is that you'll only get a referral if you really NEED one, ie you have some underlying condition like diabetes which makes expert foot care essential, AND the waiting lists may be very long even if your case is seen as urgent.
• I suspect if NHS chiropody was free to all over 60s the waiting list would be five years long
• Check your local Age Concern / Age UK. we have a podiatrist a few morning a week , it is not free, but is around Ј30 cheaper than the health centre next door
• Check out your local beauty salon and ask if they do pedicures. I used to go to a chiropodist and ten minutes which basically involved getting my toe nails cut and out in ten minutes cost me Ј30.
  At my local salon I get my nails cut, cuticles trimmed, rough skin removed from feet, a foot and lower leg massage, diabetes foot check plus you can get them painted the colour of your choice if you want! All for the grand sum of Ј25. Takes about an hour but it feels wonderful!
• I'm a qualified podiatrist, unfortunately NHS chiropody seems to be being phased out. A good way of finding a HCPC registered podiatrist in your area is to go to the society of chiropodists and podiatrist website and do a search. The big downside to beauty places is they don't sterilise equipment between patients....
  Hope this helps
• My local podiatrist failed to pick up that thick skin on my feet was due to one of my medicines, and also failed to advise me to see a doctor about an ingrowing toe nail. At Ј32 for a 20 minute session, she onto a winner.
• Huddersfield University has a Podiatry Department with first class facilities. There are plenty of enthusiastic trainee Chiropodists waiting to get hold of your feet. The fee is Ј10 and I have happy feet. Checkout your local Uni/College to see if they offer this facility. Pedicures are available in college "beauty salons" at a fraction of the prices charged in Salons.
• Just checked the leaflet, it mentions everything from hair loss to skin irritation to memory loss to prolonged erection.
  It's a case of covering themselves.
  To a SPECIALIST, the medicine should have alerted her straightaway, but why mention this when she makes money from regular visits at Ј32 a time.
• Because she will not have access to an up to date version of the BNF and as there are thousands of new medications coming out all the time it is impossible to know what the side effects of them all is without checking.
  A chiropodist/podiatrist has to be qualified and undergo a degree course. However foot care practitioners etc have no regulation and some just do a correspondence course.There is a world of difference between a person carving hard skin off and a professional who can diagnose and treat medical, bio mechanical problems etc.
  Check using the link above that who you are seeing is registered.
  Ps Mckneef there is a world of difference in the costs involved setting up a podiatry clinic and the immense costs involved in running a dental surgery.
• I can't comment on local practice or others experience, but only my own.
  I had difficulty walking on my foot at times over the Summer, I saw a doctor who couldn't diagnose what it was wrong. I spoke to an ex-nurse who encouraged me to insist on a diagnosis/referral. I looked up NHS podiatrists for my area and checked access advice. Yes, the emphasis is on chronic underlying conditions such as diabetes, but reading between the lines it doesn't rule out other referrals. I saw a second doctor and asked for a referral. She mentioned the emphasis on chronic conditions on the referral form, but I explained my concerns - immobility - weight gain - chronic condition. I saw a podiatrist yesterday - she didn't question my referral. I wish I had discussed this issue with her, but will do in eight weeks time.