The Society of Shoe Fitters charity is just completing its 60^th year.  They were delighted to present George Paish of Bill Bird Shoes (bespoke shoemakers in Moreton-in-the-Marsh) with their Student of the Year 2019 – Fisher-George Memorial Trophy.  The presentation took place at the Footwear Awards Dinner organised by Datateam Publishing during the MODA weekend.

This prestigious industry award is given to the most outstanding student on the long-running Footwear & Fitting Course – a 5 module course which includes the industry, anatomy/physiology of the foot, problem feet, construction methods, materials and their bearing on fit, gauges, sizing and customer care etc.  It is primarily distance learning with two practical modules – one at the College of Podiatry and the other at a Northamptonshire shoe factory (DB/Loake Shoes).

George tells us:

‘As someone who only entered the industry two years ago completing The Society of Shoefitters footwear and fitting course has been an invaluable part of my journey so far. Learning it whilst I’m still relatively new to footwear has set me off on the correct path armed with what I read in the folder provided and at the practical workshops.  It also adds a recognised industry qualification to my CV.  I work day-to-day as a bespoke orthopaedic shoemaker and the information in the coursework has given me insight into other areas of the industry, things I may not have learnt without completing the course. I’d recommend it to anyone who works with shoes, feet and the lower limbs of the body.  However knowledgeable you think you are, there’s something in there for everyone to learn.  It’s separated into manageable sections which are easy to cross refer to, and you can go at your own pace. Winning the Fisher George Student of the year was a real honour and it was great to be rewarded for the time and effort I put into the answers I submitted.’ 

President and Fellow of the Society Rosemary Gray said ‘Working with George was a pleasure and we are delighted George has chosen to become a Lifetime Member.  There is no doubt he is already an asset to Bill Bird Shoes and to the footwear trade.  George has a great future ahead in one of the most rewarding and much needed parts of our industry’. 

Could you volunteer a few days from December 24^th to 29^th this year?

Cosyfeet have teamed up with Crisis, the national charity for homeless people, in appealing for volunteer podiatrists at their Christmas centres in London, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Coventry and Birmingham this year.

Crisis welcomed over 4000 guests in 2018, all of whom have much less opportunity for foot care than the rest of the population and yet have far greater demands on their feet. The results can be debilitating and painful. Over 390 of those guests benefited from the Crisis Podiatry service, which was run by around 60 volunteers.

This year, Crisis are hoping to attract even more volunteers, to treat even more people in need. They are seeking qualified podiatrists to treat their guests, and podiatry students or foot health practitioners to help run the service by welcoming guests and preparing them for treatment.

Volunteer teams provide a range of treatments and foot care advice for guests, mainly treating corns and calluses, mycotic and gryphotic nails, as well as blistering and maceration.

“The best thing about the podiatry service is not only do guests leave feeling reassured and more comfortable, but we can point them in the direction of year-round services,” comments Eloise, the Crisis Podiatry Service Organiser. “You get to be part of such a great team too.”

London volunteers meet at the Crisis Hub at the start of each shift to be briefed and assigned to a team. Transport is provided to and from treatment centres between December 24^th and December 29^th.  Shift times are 9.00am to 6.00pm. Clinics run from 10am to 5.00pm.

Christmas volunteers are also required in Newcastle, Edinburgh, Coventry and Birmingham.

For further information on how to sign up for volunteering over Christmas, please check www.crisis.org.uk/volunteering. Applications open in October.

Cosyfeet supports Crisis each year by donating socks to users of the volunteer podiatry service, and by appealing for volunteers from the podiatry community.

The Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (IOCP)

(Founded 1938 as the Joint Council of Chiropodists of Great Britain & Ireland)

 

Position Statement on Podiatric Surgery and the scope of Minor Surgery by Podiatrists

The Health and Care Professions Council are once again planning to consult stakeholders on the possible annotation of Podiatric Surgeons upon the HCPC podiatry register. In order to qualify as a podiatric surgeon there is extensive postgraduate specialist training conducted over a number of years, leading to the award of a recognised fellowship in podiatric surgery.  It is assumed that such a training route would be recognised for annotation should such annotation come about, and the IOCP fully supports that measure.

In line with the IOCP’s core commitment to developing and enhancing the scope of front-line delivery of podiatry care, minor surgery training by the IOCP is designed to teach the safe and responsible performance of minor superficial surgical procedures by correctly trained podiatrists in an appropriate primary care setting. The training is designed to address the knowledge and skills gap between general podiatry and the more complex procedures requiring a fully trained podiatric surgeon. In order to commence training, applicants must have the necessary prerequisites of POM-A and POM-S or existing annotation on the podiatry register as independent prescribers. The course is designed to build upon the training given at undergraduate level in simple procedures such as basic nail surgery so that successful course graduates can safely and confidently deliver the next level of procedures, such as enhanced nail surgery and the curettage, excision, cautery and electro desiccation of benign superficial skin pathologies. Such procedures are now commonly and safely provided in primary care settings by both medical practitioners with a special interest and suitably trained nurse practitioners.

The Institute teaching faculty includes consultant podiatric surgeons, podiatrist independent prescribers, medical practitioners and advanced scope podiatrists working synergistically to ensure delegates to the course follow an effective taxonomy of learning leading to demonstrable confidence as a safe and responsible independent provider of minor procedures. The course is delivered at appropriate facilities within the Broadgreen Hospital Liverpool, The Sir Robert Peel Hospital Tamworth and the IOCP National training and skills centre Merseyside.  Course content  includes both lectures and practical sessions  in  patient assessment and treatment options, medico-legal issues, recognition of skin lesions and pathologies suitable for treatment, sterile techniques and infection control, skin preparation , appropriate medications and medicines management, dealing with adverse events, advanced local anaesthesia, procedure techniques , haemostasis, wound closure and dressing techniques, specimen management, histology, follow up and reflective self-audit. Mentoring by an IOCP recognised mentor is required for completion of the log-book of procedures necessary for sign-off.

Whilst substantially enhancing a podiatrists safe scope of practice and level of service delivery, the minor surgery course is not designed to meet the requirement for annotation as a podiatric surgeon nor permit the use of such a title, but successful delegates to the course may certainly indicate by a form of words such as enhanced scope practitioner in minor surgery  that they have attained a higher level of training in minor skin surgical procedures.

Approved by Deans and Faculty of the IOCP College of Podiatric Surgeons and Faculty of Podiatric Medicine. November 2019 V.1. Rev 0.

The Cosyfeet Podiatry Award 2020 is now open for entries. This £1000 award will be presented to a podiatry student or qualified podiatrist planning a special project that will develop their professional knowledge and skills while benefitting others.

 

Applications are invited for projects including voluntary work, placements, research or other initiatives. The winning entry will demonstrate how the entrant’s chosen project is of value to clients whilst advancing their own professional development. This award is designed to assist with costs associated with the applicant’s selected project, which could include expenses for equipment, travel or living. Projects may take place in the UK or abroad.

 

Former winners have undertaken a wide range of initiatives including those relating to the podiatric needs of dementia sufferers, the diabetic foot and the treatment of talipes equinovarus in children. Others have travelled to Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia or South America to assist with conditions resulting from diseases such as leprosy and filariasis.

 

Michael Hutchby, a podiatric surgeon and doctoral student at the University of Derby, was the proud winner of the Cosyfeet Podiatry Award 2019.

His award will fund IT support for his research. This will investigate whether an increased period of post-operative analgesia can be obtained by applying a saphenous nerve block just above the knee rather than at the ankle, and whether such an increase reduces the need for post-operative opioids.

 

Cosyfeet specialises in extra roomy footwear, socks and hosiery for people with extra wide or swollen feet. The company’s goal is to help keep people mobile for as long as possible by providing good footwear to fit swollen and misshapen feet in comfort.

 

If you would like to apply for the Cosyfeet Podiatry Award, visit https://www.cosyfeet.com/award for further information and to enter online before the closing date of April 24^th, 2020. The winner will be requested to submit a report and photographs about their project, and to feature in Cosyfeet publicity relating to the award.

 

Cosyfeet is the UK market leader in extra roomy footwear for swollen feet, with many styles suitable for people living with diabetes. As well as being extra wide and deep, Cosyfeet footwear is adjustable, so it fits a range of swelling from minor to very swollen. It also accommodates very wide feet, problem toes, bunions and bandaging. Lots of thought goes into Cosyfeet’s shoemaking including carefully placed seams, cushioned support and removable insoles to accommodate orthotics.  Cosyfeet also offers a range of specialist socks and hosiery. With over 36 years’ experience of fitting swollen feet, Cosyfeet is a well-known, respected brand that is recommended by over 11,000 Health Care Professionals. For more information email prof@cosyfeet.com or call 01458 449071.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

HCPC New principles for those who prescribe remotely

The ability to speak with healthcare professionals via phone, video-conference and email significantly increases accessibility for service-users, but it is imperative these services do not impact on their safety.

The ten principles, underpinned by existing standards and guidance, include the need to:

–          Understand how to identify vulnerable patients and take appropriate steps to protect them;

–          Carry out clinical assessments and medical record checks to ensure medication is safe and appropriate; and

–          Raise concerns when adequate patient safeguards aren’t in place.

These principles apply to all healthcare professionals involved in providing consultations and medication to patients remotely. For HCPC this includes our chiropodists/podiatrists, dietitians, paramedics, physiotherapists, and diagnostic and therapeutic radiographers.

See here for further information

National charity DEBRA is pleased to announce it has teamed up with NHS healthcare professionals and invested £105K into an EB podiatry care project. The project includes the launch of the first international Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for podiatry in EB.  The CPG is led by Dr Tariq Khan and Mark O’Sullivan and outlines recommendations for clinical care based on scientific evidence and expert opinion, which is vital in providing internationally consistent standards of care.   The EB CPG outlines best podiatry practice and provides awareness and guidance for healthcare professionals when treating EB.  The CPG will help increase clinician and patient knowledge of EB and the available treatment options. The CPG can be downloaded from the DEBRA website: https://www.debra.org.uk/healthcare/podiatry and at https://www.debra.org.uk/downloads/community-support/podiatry-cpg-tariq-khan-et-al.pdf

 

Dr Khan has worked for over 21 years as a Consultant Podiatrist and Specialist EB Podiatrist at Great Ormond Street Hospital and Mark O’Sullivan is the EB Team Podiatrist at Solihull and Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

DEBRA is the national charity that supports people affected by the skin condition Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB.)  EB is a potentially fatal genetic skin condition that causes constant pain due to unstoppable internal and external blistering.  DEBRA funds specialist NHS EB nurses, pioneers research to find a cure, and provides help, advice, and support for people in the UK living with EB.

Debra does not receive government funding and is reliant on voluntary donations to fund their valuable work.  The charity funds up to 25% of all specialists EB nurses in the UK and supports many healthcare specialists and projects.

We are especially proud to announce the launch of the first international Podiatry Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for healthcare professionals funded by DEBRA.  The CPG covers advice for all types of EB and will help people living with EB in the UK and around the world.”

Dr Tariq Khan, Consultant Podiatrist and Specialists EB Podiatrist at Great Ormond Street Hospital who lead and developed the EB Podiatry course said: “We are especially proud to announce the launch of the first international Podiatry Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) for healthcare professionals funded by DEBRA.  The CPG covers advice for all types of EB and will help people living with EB in the UK and around the world.”

Claire Mather Director of Healthcare at DEBRA said: “We are delighted to fund the EB Podiatry Project and the first international CPG, developed and led by Dr Tariq Khan. DEBRA is committed to working in partnership with the NHS to provide life changing specialist care across the UK to the EB Community. We’ve donated £105k to the EB podiatry project and we are proud to have been able to fund Dr Khan’s work in this way.  We do not receive government funding, we rely on voluntary donations to fund our work.  We would like to thank all our supporters and donors who have helped us raised the funds to do this valuable work.”

Each year, we open centres across the UK, to bring food, accommodation, vital services and well being activities to over 4,000 homeless people at one of the hardest times of the year, and offer a starting point out of homelessness.   

Homelessness is a stressful, lonely and often traumatic experience which has a major impact on both mental and physical health – the average age of death for the homeless population is just 45.

Right now we are looking for volunteer podiatrists and students in our London centres over Christmas. Rough sleeping can take a real toll on the feet of many of our guests. The Podiatry Service provides a range of treatments and footcare advice for our guests.

Our centres are open 24- 29 December and are spread across 9 different locations across London. Volunteers are required to sign up to a minimum of 2 sessions and the shift times run from 9am till 6pm.  You can find out more information about the role here.

If you are a qualified podiatrist and wish to help vulnerable people then we want to hear from you!

To register as a volunteer, please follow the link and fill out the volunteer registration form for a Health care Professional. As you follow the application you can choose your shift dates and attach your HCPC number.

If you have any questions please email ccservices@crisis.org.uk or call our volunteering hotline on 0300 636 1000 and we will be happy to help.

We look forward to seeing you at Christmas.

This guidance is designed to help small to medium-sized UK businesses and organisations keep personal data flowing with Europe (the EEA) after Brexit. (The EEA is the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.)

If we leave the EU without a deal, most of the data protection rules affecting small to medium-sized businesses and organisations will stay the same.

The UK is committed to maintaining the high standards of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) and the government plans to incorporate it into UK law after Brexit.

If you are a UK business or organisation that already complies with the GDPR and has no contacts or customers in the EEA, you do not need to do much more to prepare for data protection compliance after Brexit.

If you are a UK business or organisation that receives personal data from contacts in the EEA, you need to take extra steps to ensure that the data can continue to flow after Brexit.

If you are a UK business or organisation with an office, branch or other established presence in the EEA, or if you have customers in the EEA, you will need to comply with both UK and EU data protection regulations after Brexit. You may need to designate a representative in the EEA.

Use this guidance document to understand whether you will be affected and to find out how you need to prepare. It also links to additional guidance about how to improve your data protection knowledge and compliance.

A note from ICO

We now have a short animation ‘No Deal No Data?’ which we would like you to share with your members. The animation outlines how organisations can use toolkits and checklists on the ICO website to maintain the flow of personal data in the event of no-deal.

We are aware that many organisations have Brexit information hubs on their websites or might be planning Brexit-related newsletters or social media campaigns. We’d like to get as many people as possible to see this and would appreciate any help you can give us to get the message out to your stakeholders.

The link to the video is here: https://vimeo.com/367803186

Foot Health Consortium

Health Education England (HEE) has invited key stakeholders to join the newly established Foot Health Consortium. We are delighted to be a member of this Consortium. The Consortium has been established to advise HEE on the current education, training and scope of practice of the different groups of practitioners working in foot health. The priority of the Consortium is to design and develop an agreed framework with appropriate educational resources. The aim is that the model will be applicable to all sectors of this workforce and will be recognised, understood and accepted by service users and practitioners.

 

Update: 23rd November 2020

Consultation for draft Standards for the Foot Health Workforce

Health Education England, along with the Foot Health Consortium are launching a consultation to seek the views of stakeholders on a draft set of standards for the foot health practitioner and podiatry support workforce.

The consultation will be open from Monday 23 November 2020 – midday Friday 15 February 2021.

The Standards have been developed to support the NHS to effectively use the full skills mix of the foot health workforce to meet demand by providing a clear understanding of the footcare treatments that foot health practitioners and the podiatry support workforce can safely perform. The needs and safety of patients is central in this work.

We would therefore value your feedback about the standards via the consultation and look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions as we take this vital and important next step.

Please visit the HEE consultation webpage for the consultation survey link and two important documents that will help you respond to the consultation.

The Consultation on standards for the non–regulated foot health workforce sets out the background to the work to develop the Standards. It then explains more about how the Standards have been developed and how it is proposed they will be used. The draft Standards on which we are seeking your feedback have been published alongside this consultation document.

Visit the HEE website for the Standards and Consultation document that will accompany the consultation

In 2019, we gathered as a Consortium of Foot Health Leaders to address the problem of the falling recruitment numbers on traditional routes into podiatry. The priority of the Consortium is to develop a foot health career ladder and educational resources that will support and increase the number of podiatrists and podiatry support workers working in the NHS.

The work of the Consortium has enabled a better understanding of the workforce that provides foot care, with the aim of optimising this workforce for the benefit of those who use the services of any practitioner, in England, who work in this arena.

These Foot Health Education and Training Standards are the result of a year’s work to increase the supply of podiatrists in the NHS workforce. We also want to ensure that the NHS recognises the knowledge and skills of the wider foot care support workforce.

The Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability at Trinity College Dublin is launching another run of its Massive Online Open Course (MOOC), geared to healthcare professionals, care providers and others who work with people with an intellectual disability.

 

For the first time in history, people with an intellectual disability are living well into old age. This success story is a result of improved health care, better living conditions, access to education, and community supports. Despite this success, the life expectancy of a person with an intellectual disability is nearly 20 years less than their non-disabled peers. For decades, health and health care inequalities among people with an intellectual disability have been an issue, due to inaccessible healthcare information and service provision. These challenges can increase exclusion from preventative screenings, delay regular health assessments, impact on quality of life, and further marginalise people with an intellectual disability.

 

Trinity’s free three-week online course will explore how to improve health assessments for people with an intellectual disability. Learners will explore best practice techniques for communication, assessment, and developing accessible materials for people with an intellectual disability. It is open for registration on the FutureLearn platform and starts on the 12^th of August 2019.  The lead educator is Dr Eilish Burke, Ussher Assistant Professor in Ageing and Intellectual Disability at Trinity College Dublin and the Associate Director of the Trinity Centre for Ageing and Intellectual Disability.

 

“My goal in creating this course,” said Dr. Burke, “is to share techniques that all allied healthcare professionals can adapt to their clinical practise, enriching their skills and improving engagement with all patients, ultimately empowering individuals with an intellectual disability to be partners in health.”

 

To register for Trinity’s free online course, starting on the 12^th of August 2019, please visit: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/health-assessment/4.

 

What are Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)?

MOOCs are a free online learning experience.  Thousands of learners from all over the world come together to explore educational resources delivered by Trinity’s leading academics.  Educational resources include videos, links, articles, simulations, reflections and discussion forums.  There is a focus on social learning where learners learn by communicating with one another in discussion forums. Trinity College has welcomed over 150,000 registered learners, from over 100 countries, to their seven MOOCs since 2014.