The following advice has been issued to us from our governing body, the College of Podiatry. We want to ensure all patients that we are diligently adhering to all of the following, to ensure both your safety and our own.

Guidance Issued by the College of Podiatry

This guidance still applies following the PM’s announcement on 23rd March at 8.30pm and is relevant where ever you work including home visits.

As a result of COVID-19 the NHS system will be under significant strain. Podiatrists and Podiatric surgeons are key to the successful management of foot & lower limb pathology that will help avoid unnecessary visits to acute hospitals and in some cases admissions.

Supporting the management of high-risk foot patients, to help avoid complications such as ulceration and specifically infection is essential.

With this in mind we have issued the following advice to members:

1. If you show any of the signs of COVID-19 infection you must self-isolate for 7 days, if any of your household show symptoms you must self-isolate for 14 days.

2. Podiatrists in private practice, who are vulnerable themselves as outlined by the Government should follow this advice and strongly consider self-isolation.

3. All routine and non-urgent treatments and assessments should be delayed until further notice for patients with low-risk feet. Alternatively, they can be offered a remote consultation as per COP guidance.  See NHS England/Improvement guidance on prioritisation within Community Health Services

4. Patients with high-risk feet or urgent need can still be treated especially if they are at risk of breakdown or infection. This would also include those that are in a vulnerable category or are over 70.  Please undertake a risk assessment on each patient. Document your clinical reasoning to treat or not to treat in the patient record.

We have produced a decision tree to help members to triage their patients which can be used in conjunction with this guidance and the FDUK guidance.  Make sure all decisions are recorded in the patient records.

5. When treating patients, you should be following the College of Podiatry Infection Control Standards as a minimum.

6. If a patient requires urgent Podiatry treatment but has or is suspected of having COVID-19 you must not treat them in Private Practice and you should advise them to call 111.

7. Ideally limiting distance (2 metres minimum from their face) and length of time spent with patients limits the spread of the disease. Noting when visiting someone’s house there may be others present and they should be advised not to be near you when you are treating the patient i.e. asking them to be in another room if possible.

 8. If any private patient with a high-risk foot presents with an infection, engage with your local NHS podiatry service immediately. See the College of Podiatry special advisory group Foot in Diabetes UK guidance on lower limb prevention, published 23 March 2020

9. Between contacts, all surfaces and door handles should be cleaned with antibacterial and viricidal spray.

10. We would remind clinicians you should not wear your uniform to and from clinic and launder immediately on arrival home.  If you do not wear a uniform then other clothing should be worn for travel and change into “work clothes” on arrival.  This should then be removed at the end of the clinic and washed immediately return home.

11. Waiting room chairs should be spaced apart and it is recommended appointments with different clinicians are staggered. This means that multiple patients are not congregating in the waiting room if possible.

12. Prior to the day beginning all patients booked in should have been screened. This relates to their health, presenting complaint and risk to assess if their appointment is required.

13.  When doing home visits ask other members of the family to be in another room. We will also keep appointments to as short as possible.

Ever since this crisis began, we at the Sussex Foot Centre have taken all measures necessary. We have done this to protect the health and wellbeing of both our patients and ourselves also.

Our decision to remain open has been continually assessed in light of advice from the Government and the College of Podiatry. As of today, 25th March, the Government has stated that Podiatry and Chiropody clinics can remain open.

The release states that exceptions to the closure of businesses and premises are: Medical services (such as Dental Surgeries, Opticians, and Chiropody and Podiatry Clinics).

Our decision to remain open has also been taken with the assurance and the confidence that we can provide a sterile and hygienic setting for our patients.

We understand just how much our patients rely on us, as many present with a host of complex needs. Because of this, we are determined to continue treating those at high risk of foot infection. We will also treat those who require emergency appointments. We will also be providing any online and telephone advice.

By doing this, we are thus providing crucial preventative care, which will ultimately keep our most vulnerable patients out of hospital and away from harm.

Are podiatrists Keyworkers?

The UK government has advised the following health category for keyworkers whose children can attend school:

Health and social care

This includes but is not limited to doctors, nurses, midwives, paramedics, social workers, care workers, and other frontline health and social care staff including volunteers. The support and specialist staff required to maintain the UK’s health and social care sector whose working as part of the health and social care supply chain, including producers and distributors of medicines and medical and personal protective equipment.

In light of the current Government advice, The College of Podiatry advises that: A frontline health care worker is a medical professional who delivers essential or routine medical treatment and that includes podiatry in whatever sector it is delivered.

Dear Patients 

At the Sussex Foot Centre, the health and safety of our patients and our colleagues is of the utmost importance. Like many businesses in the UK, we are closely monitoring the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and following the advice provided by the UK’s health authorities. In addition, we are following the guidelines of the College of Podiatry.

We wanted to update you on the actions we are taking to keep you safe and how you can keep yourselves and others as safe as possible while still coming into clinic for necessary treatment.

What exactly are we doing?
First, in line with guidance from the authorities we have increased the frequency of cleaning and the focus on hygiene management in the clinic. Specifically, we have:
– Increased the frequency of cleaning high touch areas such as door handles.

– Redoubled efforts to ensure that soap dispensers remain filled in all the WC facility.

– Increased the number of hand sanitisers and ensured they are refilled frequently Continued to remind members of the importance of good hygiene in the clinic.

Our patients are taking extra care to increase personal hygiene, which has meant demand for hand sanitiser gel and cleaning materials has increased significantly. 

We will continue to do everything we can to keep the clinic well stocked.

Second, we have advised all patients on what to do when returning from foreign travel, in line with the recommendations of UK health authorities.

Third, we will keep you informed. Advice from the UK’s health authorities is very clear: the risk of a patient becoming infected if another has tested positive is very low. However, if we are notified of any relevant issue, we will notify all and undertake a thorough clean of the clinic. 

As a patient, how can you help?

As a patient you can ‘do your bit’ to reduce the spread of the virus through good personal hygiene. This includes:
– Frequent hand washing (wash your hands for 20 seconds) and hand sanitising during your visits.

 – Making full use of the soap, sanitisers and cleaning items available.

 – Covering your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and dispose of the tissue in the bin after use.

– Familiarise yourself with the latest Government guidance and do not visit the gym if you are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 and are advised to self-isolate.

– Follow Government guidance if you are a returning traveller

With the efforts of everyone at the Sussex Foot Centre, including our patients, let’s work together to keep ourselves safe and healthy.

From us all

Here at The Sussex Foot Centre, we are now offering Sports Massage Therapy. Our experienced practitioner, Paul Wills will look at the root of your injury. His treatment will therefore cover prevention as well as strategic management of your issues.

For the last 25 years, Paul has worked with all levels of activity, from the general public, to world class athletes. The treatment modes which we will use are varied. He utilises Postural Assessment, Sports Massage, Gait Analysis, Dry Needling, Rehab Exercise, Joint Mobilisation, and much more.

One form of treatment which Paul is also offering, and one we are very excited about, is Shockwave Therapy. Shockwave therapy, or, Extracorporeal Shockwave Therapy (ESWT), is a highly effective treatment for pain, chronic soft tissue injuries, as well as certain types of bone conditions. For this, research and experience suggest that a minimum of three treatments is required, but this can be discussed with our practitioners during your appointment. To find out more about Shockwave Therapy, please see out blog post about the treatment here.

Our Sports Massage Therapy treats all varieties of patient’s muscle and skeletal pain and disability. Treatment will mostly includes kneading and manipulation of muscles, joint mobilisation and joint manipulation.

Paul will work alongside all of us here at the Sussex Foot Centre. Working together, we will devise a treatment strategy which is made specifically for you and your needs.

To find out more about Sports Massage Therapy, please call Paul directly on 07810 014220. You can also give us a call at the clinic on: 01444 453874. We will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have. You can also find out about our other treatments here.