Podiatry – Citywide
Podiatry is an Allied Health Professional discipline which manages foot health and disease. Podiatrists specialise in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of problems affecting the foot.
Podiatrists work across both community and hospital services in paediatric care, diabetes, rheumatology, musculoskeletal, vascular and falls prevention enabling patients to maintain mobility and good foot health. We do not provide regular, on-going foot care, unless you have a serious foot problem.
Priority is given to patients with foot wounds or ulceration as they may have a higher risk of lower limb amputation. There are 3 podiatry teams in Manchester. The teams are comprised of podiatrists, podiatry assistants, laboratory technicians and administrators. All podiatrists are registered with the Health Care Professions Council and hold a degree in Podiatry. We are actively involved in providing training programmes for our staff to ensure that their practice is up to date.
The service aims to enable patients to look after their feet and maintain good foot health, wellbeing, and mobility. Health prevention and self-help daily routine is key to this.
Some medical conditions affecting the feet can lead to ulceration and this increases the risk of hospitalisation, lower limb amputation and an increase in mortality. The service prioritises these patients.
We are an appointment-based, non-emergency service.
You must be registered with a Manchester GP to access the service. If you are registered with a North Manchester GP, complete the North team referral form, a Central Manchester GP, complete the central team form and so on. Access to care depends on the level of foot risk associated with your foot problem.
Our teams frequently work alongside other services, e.g. district nursing, and physiotherapy, to co-manage your foot problem.
We offer:
- Triage and assessment of your foot problem.
- Self-help advice/signposting.
- Specialist prevention, education, and training programmes.
- Specialist wound care and offloading of the foot.
- Prescription and manufacture of in-shoe orthotics for adults and children with musculoskeletal problems.
- Minor surgery (under local anaesthesia) for acute or chronic nail problems such as in-growing, grossly thickened or misshapen toenails causing recurrent skin and soft tissue infection.
If treatment is advised:
- You will be given time to ask questions about treatment options available.
- Treatment objectives will be agreed between you and the clinician.
- Your care plan may involve treatment to your foot or health information to help you look after your feet.
- At the end of the care plan, you will be discharged with information to help you maintain good foot health.
- If your foot problem has not improved or resolved, we may contact your GP to arrange to see you to decide if your foot problem requires assessment from a different health care specialty.
All services operate Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm. Out of hours is not available, including bank holidays.
North Contact Details
Central Contact Details
Community Podiatry Team (Central)
Rusholme Health Centre
Walmer Street
Manchester
M14 5NB
Tel: 0161 861 2248 / 0161 861 2240
Email: Podiatry.CentralManchesterLCO@mft.nhs.uk
South Contact Details
Community Podiatry Team (South)
Northenden Health Centre
489 Palatine Road
Northenden
Manchester
M22 4DH
Tel: 0161 529 6153
Email: podiatry.southmanchesterlco@mft.nhs.uk
Most health centres have car parking on site, though this may be limited. Please call the health centre for further information. Always refer to local signage as some health centres require you to register your number plate at main reception, on arrival.
We accept referrals from any health care professional or patient or patient’s carer. It is important all sections of the referral form are completed. Incomplete Referrals will be returned to the sender.
Referrals are triaged by a clinician. The referral will either be accepted or rejected.
Accepted referrals will be triaged to a waiting list according to triaged priority.
If the problem can be managed with self-help guidance, information will be sent to the patient, for e.g. ‘how to manage fungal skin infection’.
Rejected referrals will be sent to the referrer with a reason for the rejection.
Please ensure you use the correct referral form (based on where your GP is located).
North Manchester Referral Form [Word doc, 81KB]
Central Manchester Referral Form [Word doc, 81KB]
South Manchester Referral Form [Word doc, 81KB]
Additional Information and Resources
Visit The Foot Hub for more information and support.
Page last reviewed: March 2024
Next review due: March 2025