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Health Select Committee Enquiry into Podiatry 2005?

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by C Bain, Jul 14, 2005.

  1. C Bain

    C Bain Active Member


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    Hi All,

    Do we know what the Health Select Committee's actual scope for Enquiry is? Is it,

    1. A general enquiry into Podiatry or is it NHS. fine tuning after the grading sequence they have just gone through?

    2. A result of Mr. John Baron MP.'s. letter to Government, or is it confined to the 101year old sailor and his toe nails along with a few million others and their toe nails?

    3. Is there something else needing to be sorted out as yet unknown?
    The NHS. taking control of their own training, standards or needs in Podiatry perhaps?

    Podiatry with 10,000 plus registrants is not really very significant against 50,000,000 plus population is it? Would Government be prepared to grant monies towards Podiatry to enlarge it in the NHS. I wonder?

    Regards,

    Colin.

    P.S. Post left open for comment!
     
  2. Akbal

    Akbal Active Member

    Select committees are talking shops they generally achieve nothing and recommendations are rarely followed.

    Even if they recommend more money is put into nhs podiatry, it is pct's that will decide how money is allocated the government will not dictate how local resources are allocated.

    There are no votes in foot health the government could not care less, the profession won't pull it's finger out and invest in a PR campaign so noone other than ourselves is to blame.
     
  3. Good to see you being so positive, as usual, Akbal. Keep up the good work!

    Mark
     
  4. Akbal

    Akbal Active Member

    Mark 'St Jude' Russell,

    I am always positive
     
  5. C Bain

    C Bain Active Member

    Action?

    Hi Akbal,

    Quote:-"Select committees are talking shops they generally achieve nothing and recommendations are rarely followed."

    Sometimes that can be a blessing in disguise? We must not have people thinking to deeply, they might just start acting on it! Now that can turn out to be really nasty?

    Regards,

    Colin.
     
  6. C Bain

    C Bain Active Member

    A Ps.!

    If NHS.' pct's. are acting now as independent units of the whole,

    Is it not time to get ride of the inaccurate name, NHS.!

    Regards,

    Colin. (Fuel to the fire, perhaps?).
     
  7. DAVOhorn

    DAVOhorn Well-Known Member

    re NHS

    Dear Colin,

    re the NHS

    N.H.S. means National Health Service.

    So it by definition provides Health Care.

    The PCT's are charged by the Strategic Regional Authorities to provide that health care and are provided with the funds deemed necessary.

    The PCT's then decide how to apportion those monies according to local startegies and govt strategies.

    The role of NHS Podiatry has had to change and it has done.

    It used to be an old folks club:

    Women over 60
    Men over 65
    Children under 16 or in full time education till 21
    Mental Handicap
    Physical Handicap
    Pregnant Women

    So clinics full of people who APPLIED on or usually just before relevant birthday to maximise value ie years receiving care.

    So a woman who applied on 58 th birthday ,as 2 year waiting list, gets in on 60 th birthday and then lives till 100 years.

    So ones whole career of 40 years is spent seeing this person.

    ABSOLUTELY RIDICULOUS

    So today we have different eligibility criteria which reflect CLINICAL NEED ONLY.

    WE HAVE AGREED TREATMENT PLANS WITH OUTCOMES which will lead to discharge.

    Then the next patient can be taken off the waiting list.

    WE have about 1500 new referrals per annum so 1500 in equals 1500 out.

    It is not possible to treat everybody for life.

    So we do not try.

    regards David
     
  8. C Bain

    C Bain Active Member

    Nhs.!

    Hi David,

    As usual a very interesting insight into the workings of the NHS. and Podiatry within the NHS. I guessed it would be something like that but it is still interesting to have someone like you explain it!

    If as you say that is it as far as the NHS. is concerned I am still left wondering what we need a Health Select Committee for? It really sounds as though you and your companions have already resolved it without any need for an enquiry into podiatry as far as the NHS. is concerned!

    It must therefore follow that the Select Committee must be inquiring into something else in Podiatry. Only a large increase in NHS. Assistants spring to mind harping back to the NHS. The enquiry most probably is looking elsewhere into something else in Podiatry, a fair assumption, perhaps?

    Regards,

    Colin.
     
  9. DAVOhorn

    DAVOhorn Well-Known Member

    re NHS

    Dear Colin,

    lets take a different perspective on this>

    THERE IS NO NHS PODIATRY SERVICE.

    THERE IS ONLY PRIVATE PRACTICE AND VOLUNTARY SECTOR.

    The Govt of the day realises that there is a responsibility for the NHS to become involved in providing Some Podiatry care which will be free at point of provision.

    The Govt defines that an additional 1p in the £ would underright that proposed level of NHS provision.

    Given the above scenario where would you start?.

    Bear in mind that as a Private Practitioner the NHS would seek to relieve you of some of your patients .

    This is essentially what happened to GP's and Dentists post second world war.

    So fire away with the groups that you would identify as being the most needy of NHS intervention for their Podiatry needs.

    regards David
     
  10. C Bain

    C Bain Active Member

    Hi David,

    I think you have already answered that above, I have no problem with that!

    There are still some in some quarters who believe that nail cutting is still a valid use of the NHS., however? I wonder why? Unless the politicians see some mileage in this will depend on them? I don't think you or I will have much influence on that?

    My question was what is the Select Committee on Podiatry going to do and examine? Obviously the NHS. as a main user springs to mind! But from what you say it may cease to be the main user in the near future? But until we know what is to be discussed this is very hypothetical at this moment I think! I have got some feelers out, it may be nothing more than an examination due anyway after that report in when was it 2002?

    Regards,

    Colin.
     
  11. dipper

    dipper Active Member

    more negativity!whats going on here, if the above is true, wheres the driving force to make things happen.
    Or is it a case of giving up in despair?
     
  12. C Bain

    C Bain Active Member

    Negativity?

    Hi Dipper,

    Yes to someone new here 'negativity' can appear to be the catch phrase!

    In the UK., if you can call it that, lots of fractured segments of society are via-ing for supremacy in a lot of different corners! This is not always a bad thing for in certain sections of this society the maintenance of the Establishment is always attempting to prevent change. It is a main feature of the animal! In chiropody we have massive changes in the NHS. structure taking place and I have just touched here without to much enthusiasm on a tender spot in Podiatry?

    Kingdom building and starvation of funds has lead NHS. Podiatry to attempt to stabilize their work structure in such away to try to come to terms with the pressure that they find themselves under! One of the ways they are trying to come to terms with this is by withdrawing from cutting old peoples nails who for various reasons can no longer get to them, (Their nails), or see them if they do?

    Nail cutting is being I believe declassified as a medical treatment! They then, (The old people!), have to find alternative people of various persuasions to cut their toe-nails? Some cannot get out of their houses to ask, some just haven't got the money to pay for it! Some still think there is twenty shillings in a pound! Come what may it is that part of society who finds itself in the most difficult circumstance trying to change? They are suddenly finding that they are off the NHS. treatment lists! It is important enough to talk to their MP's. about it in some cases?

    Then slightly off the subject of the NHS. we have the whole profession still in a state of flux and outside of a lot of peoples conception of control? They find themselves in change with the sphere of influence in Chiropody, possibly to some, unexpectantly changing as Government set up various Councils within their declared intentions for regulation, particular in the health services!

    Whether we like it or not we are stuck with it? Some of us will fair better than others! I have locked on to the possibility of more change about to take place in Podiatry in the back end of this year when a Select Committee sits in London? It may be quite innocent and helpful in it's approach, but some of us have not got over the change of this last three or four years yet. More change we could do without and the fear of the unknown perhaps is not helping some to settle down it seem!

    Of course as has been pointed out here 'Select Committees are just talking shops', but I wouldn't count on it? This does not bother me to much but it really is time I think for the profession settles down and uses what little sphere of influence it has left to help itself! Podiatry has lost it's Independence and is now part of a greater pot, without unity in the ranks and at the top I wonder where we will be in five years time, we might just be pleasantly surprised, of course!

    Is this what you were asking Dipper?

    Regards,

    Colin.
     
  13. dipper

    dipper Active Member

    Is this what your asking

    The reply is yes thank you, I am a bit confused here about Toenail cutting, I know that the NHS has stopped toenail cutting and from what I have heard, Podiatrist do not have much time for anything else, as the appointment times are so short.
    yet equally some private Podiatrists appear to be devising tests, so as not to cut toenails either ie, if you can bend down to get stockings off ect, you can cut your own toenails, as somebody who can bend down, but not have the ability to cut my own toenails due to a disability, i find this quite shocking, after all a Private Podiatrist is expensive. If I was going to one, I would expect this to be done.9 (I do realize that there are more overheads for private practices).

    This leaves elderly or disabled people with a problem, due they then use a less qualified person, or risk damage to their feet through neglect, will other people try cutting there toenails incorrectly causing even more damage.

    It seems to me that indeed, everyone involved needs to stand up and be counted, as for me if I pass my podiatry degree I shall be one of these people although I might make enemys.
     
  14. C Bain

    C Bain Active Member

    Toe-nail Cutting?

    Hi Dipper,

    As a private Chiropodist I spend a lot of time cutting peoples toenails and never think anything about it! In the main most of my people have something else wrong with their feet so it rarely amounts to just cutting their toenails!

    No, I have yet to find or here of a private Podiatrist round my why who will not cut someones toenails. There will be some who specialize in surgery, however, who may decline!

    Pressure of time and work prevent NHS. from cutting toenails it would appear?

    Curious, if you are disabled will you be able to get down on occasion to cut someone else's if qualified? Hopefully the answer to this must be yes?

    "Standing up and be counted," remember to bring your tin-hat along with you!

    Regards,

    Colin.
     
  15. Lots of speculation here, Colin. I think it might be best to wait and see what the committee sets out as its terms of reference and objectives otherwise we might be in danger of cooking the goose again. Don't you agree?

    Mark
     
  16. dipper

    dipper Active Member

    the answer is yes of course.
    Is the Tin Hat for funds or protection!
     
  17. C Bain

    C Bain Active Member

    Tin-hats and Them that Matter!

    Hi Dipper,

    The Tin-hat around here is most definitely for protection. Passing the hat around, now there's an original thought for you!

    Hi Mark,

    Cooking the goose is a real possibility, still you've got to get the adrenaline going some how these days, and you never know, someone just might be listening, who matters, in all this? Then again it might be a good idea to ask Admin. to have some of these new THREADS put in the members only section just in case they are???

    Regards All,

    Colin.
     
  18. dipper

    dipper Active Member

    Tin hat for protection, better make it a very durable one then.
     
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