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. 

We are trusted by our clients

Amy's been extremely helpful, informative and lovely to talk to during my foot appointment the last few visits. 100% recommend their services.
Darryl Rebbetts
Darryl Rebbetts
26/10/2022
Have had scan and chiropodist treatments and both were carried out with care and I was informed what would be done. I would highly recommend the Sussex foot centre for treatments.
Sheila Stobbs
Sheila Stobbs
15/10/2022
I was misdiagnosed by my GP after injuring myself long distance walking. Now I not only know what's wrong with me, but also how to remedy it so I can walk again. Great attention to detail. Thank you 😊
Liz Platt
Liz Platt
09/10/2022
Fantastic experience with the whole practice, there’s no where I’d trust more. Originally I went to have one issue sorted out, and have found another to be dealt with alongside. A practice where you feel listened to and taken seriously. Thanks again!
Nikki Martin
Nikki Martin
07/10/2022
Had an appointment with Jon Collins about a sore heel. Had a scan on both heels, which was followed by a detailed analysis of the results and an explanation (in layman's terms) what the issue was. Very impressed with his knowledge, how it was imparted and happy with our agreed action plan.
Jonathan Whitnall
Jonathan Whitnall
25/09/2022
Over the last 4 years or so, I have visited a number of professionals including physiotherapists, chiropractors and osteopaths. I was experiencing recurring injuries in my left knee and hip from sports and from attempting to walk mid-distances. The pain was starting to flare in my back too. I was following the physiotherapists’ advice religiously and attending appointments regularly. However, the programme of exercises tended to make the pain worse rather than better. To add to my frustration, I was also misdiagnosed with a hip condition. In the back of my mind, I always felt there was something biomechanically incorrect in the way I move but I was reassured that was not the case until…..I booked an appointment with Jon at Sussex Foot Centre for a gait assessment. Jon quickly recognised the issue with my feet and their incorrect positioning. I was prescribed custom orthotics and after a few months of perfecting these, Jon then created my semi-permanent pair of orthotics. I have been walking further than I have done and am now back on the courts playing tennis, which I love, and never thought I would be able to do again. The whole team at Sussex Foot Centre are very helpful and efficient. My treatment is ongoing so as long as Jon is a podiatrist, I am his patient :) Thank you for everything!
Katherine Morley
Katherine Morley
22/09/2022
I had nail surgery last October and after all this time I can say it was worth it. Jon didn’t rush me into it and gave me all options available, in the end I decided to go for the surgery and Jon made it so easy and everything was explained to me before, during and afterwards. Any questions I had were always answered by Jon or one of his team and put my mind at rest (I’m a bit of a worrier). Can’t thank them enough for helping with something that I had tried to ignore for years.
Gavin Robertson
Gavin Robertson
01/09/2022
I highly recommend Sussex foot centre. I booked an appointment for the shoe insoles and Jon was very helpful and professional. He provided a great solution for me and I feel much better since I wear my new insoles. The entire team is also very nice and helpful with booking the appointments around my work schedule.
Michał Piotrowski
Michał Piotrowski
22/07/2022
After the NHS screwed up my ingrown toenail operation twice this year I decided to go private and it was the best decision. I was seen really quickly and toes healed within a couple of weeks, highly recommend sussex foot centre.
Lauryn Spink
Lauryn Spink
22/07/2022