FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. MY FEET DON’T HURT, WHY SHOULD I HAVE THEM CHECKED?
Our feet are one of the most hardworking parts of our body, supporting and carrying us for thousands of miles throughout our life. Therefore, they need regular check-ups to monitor their general condition; much like a visit to the dentist or optician. Podiatrists are highly skilled professionals, able to pick up on tell-tale signs of foot damage or problems with your nails and skin before they become serious. As the old adage goes, prevention is better than cure.
2. WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHIROPODY AND PODIATRY?
There’s no difference between chiropody and podiatry; podiatry is simply a more modern name. It’s slightly more appropriate too, as podiatry refers to a more modern approach to foot care, encompassing biomechanics, orthotics, and foot surgery in addition to standard chiropody practices.
3. WHAT ARE YOUR QUALIFICATIONS?
All our podiatrists hold a podiatry degree, and we’re all members of the Society of Chiropodists & Podiatrists, and registered with the Health & Care Professions Council.Generally I have 50% men 50% women from all sorts of backgrounds ranging from children to elderly people. The frequency varies a lot. After the first appointment, I will tell you how often you will need a treatment.
4. CAN YOU PRESCRIBE MEDICATION?
All our podiatrists are qualified and registered to prescribe, supply and administer certain medications. Yes we are registered to use Local anaesthesia.
5. CAN YOU USE LOCAL ANAESTHETIC?
Yes, all our podiatrists are registered to administer local anaesthetic.
6. CAN YOU REFER ME TO ANOTHER SPECIALIST?
Of course, we work closely with orthopaedic consultants, chiropractors, physiotherapists, and other relevant medical professionals to ensure you receive the best possible care.
7. DO PATIENTS NEED TO BE REGISTERED WITH YOUR PRACTICE?
No, it’s not necessary for you to register with our practice, but we do ask you to complete a form at your first visit to enable us to record your notes and follow your progress. We use an encrypted cloud-based system that’s fully compliant with the Data Protection Act. This allows us to access your notes from any of our four locations, should you need to visit a different clinic for any reason.
8. DO YOU ACCEPT NHS PATIENTS?
We welcome everybody to our clinic. However, please note our services are private and chargeable
9. ARE YOUR SERVICES COVERED BY MEDICAL INSURANCE?
This depends on the type of medical insurance you hold; some insurers will cover the full or partial cost of treatment, others will not. If you wish to claim the cost of your treatment from your medical insurer, it’s important to speak with them first to check their guidelines.
Please note we do not deal with medical insurers directly. You have to pay the full cost of your treatment at the end of each session, then we’ll provide you with a receipt and complete a claim form if necessary enabling you to claim a refund from them.
10. I NEED AN X-RAY. CAN YOU REFER ME?
Yes, we can refer for other tests such as an x-ray where appropriate.
11. I HAVE AN INGROWN TOENAIL. CAN YOU HELP?
We can. Ingrown toenails are one of our main areas of expertise. We have a number of different options for treating ingrown toenails, from conservative chiropody treatments to toenail removal surgery.
For further information, see our toenail surgery page.
12. I HAVE A VERRUCA THAT WON’T CLEAR UP. CAN YOU TREAT IT?
While some verrucae clear up on their own, they can quickly become troublesome and be stubborn to heal. If your verruca has changed in appearance, spread or multiplied, is painful, or is restricting your movement, we recommend seeking professional help from a podiatrist. Verruca treatment is one of our specialities and we use three main types of treatment: freezing (cryotherapy), acid-based treatments, and verruca needling.
For further information, see our verruca treatment page.
13. I’M PREGNANT. ARE YOU ABLE TO TREAT ME?
Most of our treatments are suitable for pregnant women. However, we always ask that you disclose this to your podiatrist at the start of your session.
14. I THINK I HAVE A BUNION. WHAT CAN YOU DO?
A bunion is a deformity of the big toe, which can become inflamed and sore. We carry out a biomechanical assessment of your feet, and prescribe, supply and fit orthotics for your shoes to help realign the bones and ease any discomfort.
15. I THINK I HAVE PLANTAR FASCIITIS. WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS?
Plantar fasciitis is the most common cause of heel pain and it can affect anybody, especially athletes and those over 40 years old. Often it will clear up with routine self-care measures, but if it persists over three weeks we suggest making an appointment to see a podiatrist. We can perform a biomechanical assessment and prescribe, supply and fit orthotics to help your feet function properly and prevent a possible reoccurrence.
16. DO YOU TREAT CHILDREN?
We do. Age is not an issue for us; we treat everybody from children to the elderly.
17. HOW OFTEN DO I NEED TO SEE A PODIATRIST?
If you don’t have a particular foot problem, we recommend seeing a podiatrist every six months for a routine check-up.
If you have a problem or issue requiring treatment, the frequency of your visits depends on the nature of your problem. Some treatments require a simple one-off fix, while others need follow-up appointments. Your podiatrist will advise you on a case-by-case basis.
18. HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN APPOINTMENT?
Most of the time we’re able to fit you in on the same day. However, if you require an appointment with a specific podiatrist, at a particular location, or on a certain day and time, we recommend you contact us as soon as possible and we’ll do our best to accommodate you.
19. WHAT HAPPENS AT AN INITIAL CONSULTATION?
Your first appointment with a Feet By Pody podiatrist involves an extensive foot health assessment. We take a full medical history, including details of any medication you’re taking, previous chiropody or podiatry treatments, and any allergies you suffer. We also ask whether you have a particular problem or issue you’d like us to address.
We examine your feet and lower limbs, paying particular attention to your skin, nails, and foot alignment, and carry out a vascular assessment using Doppler. If required, we’ll gently file away any corns or hard skin, and trim and file your toenails.
If you require a specialist chiropody or podiatry treatment we can usually start this at your first appointment, with your permission. For further information, see our initial consultation page.