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Hi,

Can anyone help please??

Any idea on where to find, a manual / information of how to manufacture accommodative insoles as I have been asked by my line manager to train the chiropody assistants. I have not been able to find information on google engine search etc..
So before I embark on producing my own manual I was wondering if any one has this information to share as I rather not re-invent the wheel.

Would appreciate your help

Julie :craig:

 

Hi Julie

I have been away from the NHS for a few years now, I hope things have not changed too drastically that we have get our assistants to manufacture orthotics? I don't think there is a manual because that is a podiatrists or orthotists role, to manufacture and prescribe orthotics.
Assistants have no formal qualification, only building up 500 hours of supervised clinical time. Their role is to assist the podiatrist not do the podiatrists role.

Who exactly will be prescribing the orthotic and fitting? I am certainly not comfortable with this concept.

Sorry its not what you wanted to hear.

Lyn

 

Hi Lyn,

Thank you for your comment.

However, I was not referring to the manufacturing of custom orthotics but simply to the fabrication of ACCOMMODATIVE INSOLES that are different of physical characteristic and function to custom orthotics.

With manufacturing custom orthotics, this is a podiatrists and orthotists role. With regards to you question "Who exactly will be prescribing the orthotic and fitting?"
Who do you think a chiropody assistant or a podiatrist? The answer is a podiatrist.

However, in my view a chiropody assistant is capable to construct, design and manufacture accommodative insoles of component materials designed to fabricate accommodative insoles. The purpose of accommodative insoles is to redistribute pressure away from prominent lesions and produce comfort by the shock absorption and decrease of shock whilst not changing the functional relationship of the anatomical foot structure.

Julie

 

A| Podiatrist shouldnt be training an assistant to do anything like that - what are you trying to do train someone to replace you? - Typical NHS approach to save money by training lesser paid staff to do jobs that their higher paid counterparts
thin end of the wedge - watch your back!!

 

Dear Both,

Thank you for replying I shall take your comments as feedback to my Line Manager
for further discussion whether a podiatrist should be training a chiropody assistant to manufacture accommodative insoles.
:confused:

 

Julie - I just need to qualify my answer - training someone to manufacture the devices (as a technician) is different to that person making decisions about materials and type of device accomodation etc - don't think that an accomodative insole is any less technical than a custom device - the same thought processes and knowledge are required to produce both from the diagnostic point of view.

 

Well put Steve

If a device has the capacity to relieve presure areas it is by definition changing the function of the foot. I don't like the artificial divide between a 'functional orthotic' an 'accomodative insole'. To get an effective device you need someone who can think about the structure and dynamic function of the foot and I'd like to think Podiatrists are trained to do this.

It is not about protecting our role as Podiatrists but respecting where the strengths of different professions lie to get the most effective treatment. I would predict that instead of a cost saving measure, this would end up costing more- if insoles are not effective first time you just end up having to replace them or by seeing the patient back more often.

 

Ditto - totally agree from a clinical standpoint but I am a cynic and I also think the NHS have an agenda!!

 

Hi

Don't know if this helps:

Insoles, Orthosis and Chairside Appliances
by John Falkner-Heylings

From:

http://www.collegefhp.com/shop.htm

I have a copy, it seemed to me very (perhaps to) simple in language and concepts