Podiatry Self Referrals

You can now complete on-line self-referral via the Livewell website without prior approval or review by a health professional.

Livewell also have a wide range of self-care and education materials for a wide range of foot conditions and foot care difficulties, as well as information on transport options and for those with footcare needs the NHS does not locally provide for, information on accessing alternative providers of Podiatry care.

What Podiatry Services are available locally on the NHS?

We provide:

  • Diagnosis and treatment of foot conditions below the ankle such as foot wounds, suspected ulceration, suspected infection.
  • PIFU (Patient Initiated Follow Up) access to the Service for very high-risk conditions for 12 months after wound healing. Patients who have been seen by the Service and advised they have been retained for PIFU access can directly access care for specific problems related to foot wounds without seeing their doctor or nurse first.
  • Minor surgery for the treatment of in-growing toenails which present with a wound, infection or significant pain, or an in-growing toenail where the patient has a relevant co morbidity such as diabetes.
  • Musculoskeletal Podiatry to diagnose and treat a range of muscle and joint-related foot and lower limb problems which may be due to development, posture, occupation and exercise.
  • Children and young people may access the service for a variety of musculoskeletal and developmental problems, as well as for minor surgery for nail removal.
  • Self-management advice & signposting information for routine foot conditions and specific conditions that effect the foot e.g. diabetes and some musculoskeletal conditions
  • Home visits are only provided for patients that have a foot wound below the level of the malleoli, AND is either bed or chair bound, or requires hoisting to transfer, otherwise, as a clinic-based Service it is expected that patients will normally be seen in a clinic.

 

What Podiatry Services are not available locally on the NHS?

  • Basic foot care such as toenail care
  • Routine treatment of corns and calluses in the absence of significant medical risk & wound symptoms
  • Routine monitoring and foot care for people whose feet are at risk due to diabetes
  • Long term routine care for those unable to self-care
  • Treatment for warts and verrucae

 

 

Published: Oct 2, 2023