History
The Institute of Podiatrists (IoP) traces its history back
nearly a century, to the formation of the Joint Council of Chiropodists (JCC)
in 1938, an amalgamation of several professional chiropody organisations across
the United Kingdom. This union was driven by a desire to standardise training,
establish ethical guidelines, introduce professional indemnity insurance, and
elevate the profile of the chiropody profession. Many of these original
organisations themselves had roots that stretched back further, and the term
"chiropodist" was already widely used by the mid-1800s, exemplified
by Queen Victoria's surgeon-chiropodist, Lewis Durlacher.
The key organisations that merged to form the JCC in 1938
were:
-
The
Metropolitan Federation of Chiropodists (1920)
- The
Western Association of Chiropodists (1920)
- The
Scottish Incorporation of Podiatrists (1928, one of the earliest recorded
uses of "podiatrist" in the UK)
- The
London and Provincial Chiropodists Association (1929)
- The
Yorkshire Association of Chiropodists (1929)
The
Westminster Association of Chiropodists (1936).
In 1955, to better manage its national responsibilities, the
JCC became the Institute of Chiropodists (IoC). Later, reflecting the
increasing use of the term "podiatrist" in university degrees and
professional settings, the organisation changed its name to the Institute of
Chiropodists and Podiatrists (IoCP) in 1995.
By 2024, recognising the widespread acceptance of
"podiatry" in modern medical terminology, the organisation adopted
the name The Institute of Podiatrists (IoP). Throughout its history, the IoP
has maintained its commitment to the highest standards of practice, ethics, and
professional development, while continuing to raise the profile of the podiatry
profession.