Getting support from the Podiatry Team
To access our service please complete our self-referral form.
Once we receive your form a member of our team will review the information. If you have a condition listed in the emergency or urgent section you will receive a phone call or letter with an appointment. If your referral is routine you will receive a letter to let you know you have been added to the waiting list. If we are not able to help you with your problem, we will send further information by letter.
If your referral form is missing information, we will try to contact you via telephone, we may have to return the form to you if we cannot make a decision based on the information you have provided. Please provide as much information as possible and fully complete the form so that we can deal with your referral as quickly as possible.
If you are unable to leave your home please speak to your GP as we can only accept a referral for a house visit from a medical professional.
Emergency
If you have exposed tissue or complications due to diabetes it is important you get help fast.
We aim to see you within 2 days of receiving your form if you have:
· Ulceration on your foot This is when an area of skin has broken down and the tissue under it is exposed.
If you are showing signs of fever or sepsis you should call 999 or attend A&E.
· Charcot foot – This is a serious complication of diabetes that can develop if you have nerve damage and you may have:
– A red, hot, swollen toe or foot
– A new break or wound in the skin
– New redness or discoloration of your toe or foot
– New or unexplained pain in your foot
Urgent Conditions
If your condition is having a serious impact on your day to day activities, you have an infection or your Diabetes risk category has changed we will try to see you as quickly as possible.
We aim to see you within 8 weeks of receiving your form if you:
· Have ingrown nails, please let us know if you are taking antibiotics for infection
· Have curved nails with infection
Have Diabetes and have a foot risk category of moderate, high risk or in remission
· Are in the armed forces or a veteran
· Are unable to carry out your day to day responsibilities at work or study or as a carer due to a condition affecting the muscles, bones or tendons of your foot or ankle.
Non-Urgent Conditions
If your condition is causing you pain or discomfort but isn’t stopping you doing your day to day activities we will book you in for a routine appointment.
We aim to see you within 12 weeks of receiving your form if you:
· Have a condition that affects your muscles, bones or tendons in your lower limb such as Morton’s neuroma, heel pain, tendinopathy, bunions.
· Have an injury, sprain or strain in your foot or ankle.
We will provide assessment for routine foot care such as a painful nail, corn or callous if you have a medical diagnosis of:
Peripheral arterial disease
-Neuropathy
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Neurological disorders (e.g. Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson’s Disease, Stroke)
Cancer – and are undergoing chemotherapy
Foot/ leg amputation
Chronic Kidney Disease stage 4 or 5
A condition that suppresses your immune system.
Diabetes – if you have a risk category of moderate risk or high risk/in remission we will aim to see you within 8 weeks.
Patients with a low risk diabetic status will not be seen
Please note the Community Podiatry service has a significant waiting list due to the interruption to the service during the COVID-19 pandemic. We are working hard to reduce the back log, but patients are waiting significantly longer than our 12 week target, should your symptoms worsen during your wait, please contact the department on 0131 536 1627
What we don’t treat.
For all other foot care please see our patient information leaflets for how to manage the following:
· Basic personal foot care and nail cutting
· Thickened or misshapen nails
· Fungal nail infections
· Athlete’s foot
· Callous and corns
· Flat feet without pain
· Verrucae
· Braces, splints, callipers or footwear.
Please complete a self referral form to apply to the podiatry service for treatment
If you are using a smart phone please download the free Adobe Acrobat Reader app to complete the form electronically – get.adobe.com/reader
GPs and other healthcare professionals can access referral guidance on our Ref Help pages
