Feet Help Please

[Neens]

Following my DN foot inspection I was advised to see a chiropodist. I read in Diabetic book and somewhere online that you can get a GP referral.
As you know due to ill health I have been off work and cannot easily afford to get my feet done. However, I know it is important and my right foot has had to put up with all my weight for a year and a bit walking with a stick.
Can my GP refer me through the NHS or does it have to be a specific level to get free treatment?

 

[grovesy]

You can give it a try but in my area you can only be referred if you are classed high risk, of foot complications.

 

[Tee G]

Seeing as your DN has suggested it, I would go ahead and ask the GP - As they say "If you dont ask, you dont get" - worth a try. I hope you get it. Good luck!

 

[rebrascora]

I would have expected the DN to do you a referral.... after all the whole purpose of having a foot inspection as a diabetic is because we are at risk. I got a referral because I had what I now know to be seed corns and I needed advice on how to manage them. I got a full foot inspection from the podiatrist and she went to work on some of my keens as well as the seed corns. I was sore for 3 days afterwards and will happily manage my own feet from now on, but I would have thought an NHS referral was in order in view of you being diabetic.,,,, no harm in asking but I would ask the DN who saw you rather than the GP.

 

[Neens]

You can give it a try but in my area you can only be referred if you are classed high risk, of foot complications.

Thanks I think this may be the case.
It is painful to walk so going to have it seen to either way.

 

[Neens]

Thanks

Seeing as your DN has suggested it, I would go ahead and ask the GP - As they say "If you dont ask, you dont get" - worth a try. I hope you get it. Good luck!

Thanks, I will try to get an apt.

 

[Neens]

Thanks @rebrascora I wasn't sure if the DN could refer. Will contact the surgery and see. We have 2 designated GPs on the Diabetic team as well as my DN.

I also didn't seem to have the thorough foot inspection. No pulse checked, I have neuropathy in one foot which she is aware of as I have seen her for a year for non-diabetic medical issues. Toenails and bottom of feet were checked.

I know it won't be pleasant but also know I can't do anything myself.

I think when it reaches the stage of painful walking they can refer.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Does seem to be a bit of a postcode lottery.

Podiatry was one of those services that it was easy to cut to try to save money

Hope you can get an NHS referral for treatment @Neens

 

[trophywench]

Ah, now! I have a bunion on the one foot (why on earth not on both, far as I know I've always purchased the shoes in pairs? LOL) as a consequence of which my first toe and middle one have 'hammered' - and I got a referral to NHS podiatry quite easily, so it's definitely well worth asking. Some years ago I'd enquired and had been told 'you may as well just forget that!'

They can and will do a full 'diabetic' foot check, with Doppler and monofilament as well as anything else your tootsies need.

 

[Toucan]

Hello Neens,
Logic says that this really should be a referral as it is causing you much discomfort, I hope you mange to get the referral, but may need to use assertive techniques!

Just to add my experience of foot checks. On first diagnosis I got automatic referral to the podiatry department, got a thorough check and an in-growing toe nail well sorted.

Since then it has been very kindly and gentle checks with plenty of chat thrown in, by the nurse at my annual check-up. The thoroughness of the check though is questionable. One of my big toes is totally numb due to an injury many years ago. The routine checks have never found this, but the nurse can tick the form and get the statistics done that says I have been checked. Looking on the positive side if I wasn't diabetic I wouldn't get any checks at all.

 

[rebrascora]

It was the practice nurse who oversees the diabetics at the GP surgery who referred me both to podiatry and the dietician and the DAFNE course and she offered rather than me asking. My feet were not particularly painful but she didn't want me cutting into them myself to remove the corns, so she referred me. I assumed the podiatrist would just show me how to deal with the corns but she gave me a full inspection and treatment, with Doppler pulse tests etc. She did however say that my feet were not at risk (good pulse etc) and I did not need any follow up visits which I am more than happy about, since I was lame for 3 days afterwards..... I can happily fix them myself without making them sore like that!... She did a very thorough job though!

 

[Neens]

Does seem to be a bit of a postcode lottery.

Podiatry was one of those services that it was easy to cut to try to save money

Hope you can get an NHS referral for treatment @Neens

Yes, I think some of the research info I have accessed was pre-recession/austerity and NHS cuts.
Sadly my bid has been unsuccessful.

 

[Neens]

Ah, now! I have a bunion on the one foot (why on earth not on both, far as I know I've always purchased the shoes in pairs? LOL) as a consequence of which my first toe and middle one have 'hammered' - and I got a referral to NHS podiatry quite easily, so it's definitely well worth asking. Some years ago I'd enquired and had been told 'you may as well just forget that!'

They can and will do a full 'diabetic' foot check, with Doppler and monofilament as well as anything else your tootsies need.

Sorry to hear about your bunion, but good to know you got foot care you needed. Unfortunately looks like I have to pay. I feel guilty asking GP. She said that if the DN hadn't referred me then neither could she.

 

[Neens]

Hello Neens,
Logic says that this really should be a referral as it is causing you much discomfort, I hope you mange to get the referral, but may need to use assertive techniques!

Just to add my experience of foot checks. On first diagnosis I got automatic referral to the podiatry department, got a thorough check and an in-growing toe nail well sorted.

Since then it has been very kindly and gentle checks with plenty of chat thrown in, by the nurse at my annual check-up. The thoroughness of the check though is questionable. One of my big toes is totally numb due to an injury many years ago. The routine checks have never found this, but the nurse can tick the form and get the statistics done that says I have been checked. Looking on the positive side if I wasn't diabetic I wouldn't get any checks at all.

Thanks Kay, sadly not assertive enough
if one apt. isn't enough they will have to refer me as I cannot afford further treatment.

 

[Neens]

It was the practice nurse who oversees the diabetics at the GP surgery who referred me both to podiatry and the dietician and the DAFNE course and she offered rather than me asking. My feet were not particularly painful but she didn't want me cutting into them myself to remove the corns, so she referred me. I assumed the podiatrist would just show me how to deal with the corns but she gave me a full inspection and treatment, with Doppler pulse tests etc. She did however say that my feet were not at risk (good pulse etc) and I did not need any follow up visits which I am more than happy about, since I was lame for 3 days afterwards..... I can happily fix them myself without making them sore like that!... She did a very thorough job though!

Sounds like a fabulous DN. I did tell my DN I would struggle after not being able to earn any money for the past year, she still didn't refer me. My foot check was on my first DN apt in Dec. I see her again this weds for bloods so when she discovers I still haven't had it done maybe she will refer me. If I hadn't been diagnosed I would do it myself. The only reason I left it was because I couldn't bend with my back out of action.

 

[grovesy]

Yes, I think some of the research info I have accessed was pre-recession/austerity and NHS cuts.
Sadly my bid has been unsuccessful.

Here there has only been NHS podiatry for Diabetics with High Risk of Foot problems for at least 16 years.