What is the Podiatric Surgery Service?

What is the difference between podiatry and podiatric surgery?

Both podiatry and podiatric surgery involve the study of the foot.

Podiatrists provide mainly non-surgical care for foot problems. These include care to nails and hard skin or corns, providing insoles for shoes and carrying out minor nail surgery procedures for ingrowing toenails.

The Podiatric Surgery Service is a branch of the Podiatry Department which provides surgical treatment (operation) for foot problems affecting the bones, joints and soft tissue of your foot.

What is a podiatric surgeon?

Podiatric surgeons are not medical or orthopaedic doctors, but are specially trained in the medicine and surgery of the foot.

Where will my appointment be?

Your appointment letter will tell you where you need to go.

What will happen at my first appointment?

When you attend the Podiatric Surgery Department for the first time, your foot problem will be assessed (checked) by the podiatric surgeon or one of the podiatric surgery team.

Most new patients are seen by the consultant podiatric surgeon on their first visit, but if this is not possible, you will be offered another appointment to discuss your problem with the podiatric surgeon.

At your first appointment, as part of your assessment, your healthcare professional will ask you questions about your problem and general health, and will examine you. If you need to have any further tests, for example, x-rays, scan or blood tests, further appointments will be arranged.

When your healthcare professional has all this information it will help him or her identify the cause of your problem and advise on the best course of treatment.

What will happen if I do not need an operation on my foot?

If the podiatric surgeon decides your foot problem does not need an operation or you choose not to have it, you may be referred for insoles for your shoes, podiatry or other treatment.

What will happen if I do need an operation on my foot?

If the podiatric surgeon decides you may benefit from having an operation on your foot, you will be given more detailed information and leaflets. It is important to read these leaflets and write down any questions you might have.

Where will my operation be carried out?

All operations carried out by the Podiatric Surgery Department are in a theatre setting within a local health centre.

All operations are carried out as day case surgery. This means you will go home the same day.

Contact numbers

North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust

Podiatric Surgery
One Life Hartlepool
Park Road
Hartlepool
TS24 7PW
Central booking office: 01429 522471
Monday – Friday, 8.30am – 4.30pm

Further information is available from:

Health & Care Professions Council
Park House
184 Kennington Park Road
London
SE11 4BU
telephone:0845 300 6184
fax: 020 7820 9684
or via the website at www.hcpc-uk.org/

The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists
1 Fellowmonger’s Path
Tower Bridge Road
London
SE1 3LY
telephone: 020 7234 8620
fax: 0845 450 3721
or via the website at www.feetforlife.org

NHS Choices
telephone: 111 (when it is less urgent than 999)
Calls on this number are free from landlines and mobile phones or via the website at www.nhs.uk

Comments, concerns, compliments or complaints

Patient Experience Team (PET)

We are continually trying to improve the services we provide. We want to know what we’re doing well or if there’s anything which we can improve, that’s why the Patient Experience Team (PET) is here to help. Our Patient Experience Team is here to try to resolve your concerns as quickly as possible. The office is based on the ground floor at the University Hospital of North Tees if you wish to discuss concerns in person. If you would like to contact or request a copy of our PET leaflet, please contact:

Telephone: 01642 624719

Freephone: 0800 092 0084

Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 4:00pm

Email: [email protected]

Out of hours

Out of hours if you wish to speak to a senior member of Trust staff, please contact the hospital switchboard who will bleep the appropriate person.

Telephone: 01642 617617

Data protection and use of patient information

The Trust has developed Data Protection policies in accordance with Data Protection Legislation (UK General Data Protection Regulations and Data Protection Act 2018) and the Freedom of Information Act 2000. All of our staff respect these policies and confidentiality is adhered to at all times. If you require further information on how we process your information please see our Privacy Notices.

Telephone: 01642 383551

Email: [email protected]

Leaflet feedback

This leaflet has been produced in partnership with patients and carers. All patient leaflets are regularly reviewed, and any suggestions you have as to how it may be improved are extremely valuable. Please write to the Clinical Governance team, North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospital of North Tees, TS19 8PE or:

Email: [email protected]