NHS chiefs have urged Cumbrians to make sure they are getting the help they need with foot and leg conditions.
North Cumbria Health Professionals are celebrating Foot Health Week 2021 by raising awareness of the importance of keeping yourself in check.
Podiatrists are health professionals trained to diagnose and treat abnormal conditions of the foot, ankle, and leg.
In North Cumbria, podiatrists work in community hospitals and health centers across the county. The Podiatry Department has around 40 employees who not only provide care phases for specific conditions such as toenail ingrowth, but also provide a high risk service that helps provide lifelong treatment to patients with certain medical conditions, including poor blood supply or previous ulcerations, To prevent amputations.
The podiatry team treats conditions such as foot ulcers and foot infections. Treatment can be offered within the community or in one of their acute care facilities.
To help prevent foot ulcers, people with diabetes should have their feet checked at least once a year to make sure they have a good blood supply, to keep their skin and nails healthy, and to feel good about their feet to make sure they are Feel cuts or other injuries. People with diabetes should check their feet up, down, heels, and between the toes every day. Someone with diabetes should seek advice if they notice bleeding, open wounds, pain, or swelling in their feet.
Grace Messenger, Head of Podiatry at NCIC, said, “During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Podiatry team worked hard to care for patients at high risk for lower limb amputation and acute foot problems such as nail surgery for ingrown toenails. We have also recruited a number of employees to support other services. Therefore, we could not offer the same service that we would have provided before Covid.
“We understand this has resulted in a work backlog and will prioritize patients based on their medical or foot health needs when trying to resolve this.”
For advice, you can refer yourself or ask your GP / health care provider to refer you to review your referral against the information provided.