Feet are made up of skin, bones, tendons, ligaments, arteries, nerves, veins, and fatty pads all of which can be affected by disease, infection, poor function and trauma.Feet bear a lot of strain during our lifetime. Abnormal development, disease or injury are more likely to increase problems within the foot or through the rest of the body.

As the feet are at the body’s extremity they are usually the first things to become affected by disease and systemic disorders.

Podiatrists therefore have to consider the anatomy and pathological processes along with social factors that could be contributing to a foot related problem.

Who do Podiatrists Treat
The Podiatry service will accept all patients with foot problems that need clinical podiatric care regardless of age.

Podiatrists can treat problems associated with tissue viability, tissue stress and podiatric biomechanics. Social issues can also affect a person's foot health and a podiatrist can offer advice on how to improve a problem. Education can also be given to a carer to help a person with their foot care. Foot care that does not have a podiatric need is encouraged to be undertaken by the patients themselves and or/their carers. For people that are unable to undertake their own nail care and have no local care available, after podiatry assessment, these people may be referred to the podiatry assistant and reviewed periodically for care need.

Podiatry Services
We are able to assess, diagnose and treat many of the problems found in the feet and limbs. Should we not be able to treat the specific problem we are able to offer direct links or suggest places to go to in order that you get the you may require.

Nail Surgery
In-growing Toenails: Painful infected in-growing nails where antibiotics and self-treatment have been unsuccessful.
Thickened Toenails: Where toenails have become thickened damaged or distorted by age, infection or injury.
After assessment it might be that they need surgical intervention. We are able to use Local analgesia to help remove part or all of the toenail and permanently destroy part or all of the nail matrix (root) of the toe nail.

Biomechanics Assessment
Heel Pain or Limb Pains
Poor mechanics of the foot structures can give rise to problems.  For example:

A person standing for long periods of time with feet becoming increasingly painful maybe with heavy callous, as well, leading to foot strain.
Right foot flatter than left.
Right foot heel pain first thing in the morning.
Lower back and occasional knee pain. 
A person who has tried insoles from the chemist with only limited success.
A person who has had anterior knee pain for 3 months and is an active person needing to take time off work.
The person is receiving physiotherapy treatment and exercises have been given.
Excessive internal leg rotation during gait and the problem may be foot related.
These people may benefit from a Podiatric assessment of their foot and limb structure. Treatment by providing corrective foot insoles/othoses, to go inside shoes, and or exercise advice to help cure the problem.