Editorial

Dear Colleagues

“Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer”. By the time you read this, hopefully the major effects of the Covid crisis will be in the past and we will, once again, be living a semblance of normal life. From the professional viewpoint those of us volunteering to work with vaccination teams as well as, I am sure, the majority of our members who have been looking after elderly and/or ill relatives and neighbours, will be once more taking up our professional duties. In this journal, an excellent piece by David Tollafield reviews telemedicine and how podiatry can play its part. This follows the ‘how to’ article by Dr Bharti Rajput in the Spring volume and points the way of the future.

Inevitably, changes have occurred concerning the delivery of care to our patients. A case in point is the shortage of phenol, caused by an international scarcity of the chemical along with acetone, both of which are the active ingredients of many glues and resins. According to the laws of supply and demand, when demand increases and supply decreases, the result is a rise in price. Some of those colleagues involved in nail surgery have been in touch with Head Office to ask how to address the issue. It is an object lesson to all of us that we should be aware of, and be knowledgeable in alternative treatments. In the case of onychocryptosis there are many different therapies available including sodium hydroxide (chemical), potential cautery (electrolysis), direct cautery (electrocautery), direct cautery (electrosurgery), direct cautery (laser) and incisional surgery (Winograd/Frost etc.). All these techniques have their place and all have their drawbacks. Sodium Hydroxide requires flushing with aescetic acid following the procedure; electrolysis, electrocautery, electrosurgery and laser require equipment of varying expense and incisional surgery requires to be carried out in a ‘clean’ room. As the majority of the Institute members are engaged in solo practice the purchase of equipment which might only be used infrequently raises the spectre of cost/benefit. However, it may well be worthwhile speaking to members of your branch to arrange for group purchase or lease. Indeed, since all the techniques mentioned above require local anaesthetic induction, two members working together might not only be financially advantageous but reduce the pressure on the individual practitioner and allow a ‘list’ of patients to be treated. It may also be worthwhile speaking to larger local G.P. practices to see what facilities they have available and are willing to rent out.

Collaboration is an excellent method of working since no practitioner is all knowing and each member has some knowledge to share. In addition, isolation is not conducive to wellbeing since we all suffer from professional frustration from time to time and working with colleagues can definitely be helpful in this regard. As far as more advanced techniques such as incisional nail surgery are concerned, the Institute already runs a course on those procedures and help is always at hand. If you wish to undertake courses on the other techniques mentioned above, then just contact Head Office and provided there exists sufficient interest such courses will be arranged. If you feel that your branch members would benefit from lectures on the above subjects, then again, let Head Office know and they will put you in touch with colleagues who have the appropriate skills.

Winter is over and sunny uplands are ahead. We can take pride in our duties as we are almost unique in having the ability to consult a patient who is in pain and know that when they leave, they will do so in comfort. However, the world has changed and now is the time to embrace new challenges and new methods of working.

W J Liggins MA; BSc (Hons); FInstChP; FPodA. Dean of the College of Podatric Surgeons

Guidelines for new and established authors

Content of your article should be Podiatry or foot health-related. Podiatry Review is mostly in easy-to-read format, and articles for submission should reflect this. CPD Certificates are issued for Case Studies and Articles. Please ensure that your name and title (ie - FHP, Podiatrist, or other) are included with your article. Please proof-read and spell-check your article before submission. It would be helpful to the Editorial Committee if you could reference any books or Papers mentioned in your article. If you are not sure how to do this we are happy to assist.

Dear Members and loyal ‘Review Readers’

As you know, as an organisation we have a long history of supporting professional education at all practice levels in podiatry, chiropody and foot health that dates back to our founding years in the 1930s. Our Licentiate and Diploma courses in Chiropody were highly regarded in the days before the statutory regulation of Chiropody and Podiatry, whilst in more recent years we have provided various types of postgraduate training that has proved enormously popular in subjects as diverse as steroid therapy, advanced regional anaesthesia, platelet-rich plasma, dermal fillers and botulinum toxin in the feet and associated structures.

Currently, the Institute is one of the board members of the Foot Health Consortium that has been set up by NHS Health Education England to take forward the concept of a structured learning framework in Foot Health that will help to address both the subject of the training standard of the (currently) unregulated FHP workforce, as well as the shortage of student recruitment into University podiatry courses by looking to establish a nationally agreed education framework for the FHP workforce. Such an education and recognised qualification framework is hoped to establish opportunities for level 3, 4 and 5 FHP’s being recognised as able to provide support in the NHS workforce, as well as being an entry ‘staircase’ into University education for those who wish to ultimately complete degree training to gain HCPC registration as a Podiatrist.

In line with our commitment to current and future education development we have recruited a highly skilled fulltime education officer to the team at Head Office. I am therefore delighted to introduce Samantha (Sam) Connolly who joined the team in April. I have asked Sam to introduce herself and her brief CV follows this welcome. There are exciting times ahead in our profession, and I know that you will join me in welcoming Sam and supporting her efforts as she takes us forward into that future!

Samantha Connelly, Education Officer at The Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists

Known as Sam, I am a qualified tutor in Further Education and has worked within FE for 13 years both as a tutor and a personal tutor. I also have a BSc (hons) degree in Business and Management along with a Foundation degree in Business Information Systems. I have been in Education and Training for the last 21 years and I cannot think of a better profession than to help and support others to achieve their ambitions. I understand the barriers to learning and also how to motivate learners. I am highly skilled in meeting targets and deadlines and in mentoring and supporting learners. I am committed to Education and Learning and Development and have always looked to further my own knowledge as I believe we can always learn. I have always strived to ensure that every learner maximises their true potential and achieves their goal. I have coordinated two projects that promoted apprenticeships across Lancashire and built up a network and both apprentices and employers in order to support the project and reach out to all organisations and Schools across Lancashire. Recently I was Learning and Development Coordinator for a port. I developed all of the tracking and monitoring systems and worked with the tutors in the creation of training manuals and all training documentation in line with Health and safety and quality standards. I enjoy developing systems and I am highly skilled at ensuring quality processes are in place to ensure quality of provision.

I am looking forward to this new chapter in my career with the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and in supporting and assisting all of our learners and members in their further development. I am an animal lover and have 3 cats and one dog. I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I have just become a first-time grandparent and looking forward to the joys and challenges that it will bring to my life.