Podiatrists in general practice
About podiatrists: Podiatrists are specialized healthcare professionals trained in diagnosing, treating, and preventing foot, ankle, and lower limb conditions to help patients maintain mobility and stay active.
How a podiatrist can help patients
Podiatrists working in primary care settings offer a wide range of benefits, including:
- Minimizing the impact and consequences of long-term conditions
- Preventing and delaying the onset of chronic condition deterioration
- Maintaining and maximizing patients’ mobility
- Reducing the risk of falls
- Enabling independence, improving quality of life, and reducing social exclusion
- Reducing the need for secondary, surgical, or pharmacological interventions
- Preventing hospital admissions and unnecessary referrals
- Supporting patients living with long-term conditions
- Helping people remain mobile and in employment.
Benefits for GPs
Podiatrists in primary care can significantly reduce the workload on GPs by:
- Providing independent prescribing services
- Reducing the demand for GP appointments and home visits
- Offering direct access to specialized foot and lower limb care
Prescribing capabilities
Podiatrists working in primary care settings are qualified to independently prescribe medications, ensuring patients receive timely access to necessary interventions while relieving pressure on GPs and primary care teams.
Accessing podiatry services
To schedule an appointment with a podiatrist, please contact your GP practice.
They can advise you on the referral process and guide you through the next steps to access specialized podiatry care within your local primary care services.
For any further information please use the following links below:
Find podiatrists and chiropodists services – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
‘Podiatry Service – South East and South West Essex | Essex PartnershipUniversity NHS Trust (eput.nhs.uk)