The new HCPC standards for podiatric surgery set out requirements for programmes delivering training in podiatric surgery, as well as the knowledge and skills necessary for safe and effective podiatric surgery practice.
Podiatric surgery, the surgical management of bones, joints and soft tissues of the feet and associated structures, is significantly beyond the scope of practice of a chiropodist or podiatrist at entry to the profession.
The HCPC will use the new standards to approve and monitor programmes delivering post-registration training in podiatric surgery.
Podiatrists who successfully complete an approved podiatric surgery programme will in the future have their entry on the HCPC Register ‘annotated’ or marked. The annotation will enable patients to check the HCPC Register to see if someone is qualified to perform podiatric surgery.
Michael Guthrie, HCPC Director of Policy and Standards commented:
“We are grateful to our stakeholders and all who have contributed to development and refining of the standards for podiatric surgery. Their involvement has helped to ensure that the standards are clear and reflect current practice and training in podiatric surgery.
“We believe these standards will play a key part in public protection by ensuring practitioners who train in podiatric surgery are able to practise safely and effectively.”
The move follows a 16 week public consultation on the proposed standards and discussions with experts including the College of Podiatry, British Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (BOFAS), NHS Education for Scotland (NES), the British Orthopaedic Association (BOA), The Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) and General Medical Council (GMC).
Visit
http://www.hcpc-uk.org/publications/standards/index.asp?id=1060 to read the new standards on the HCPC website.
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