Message for 3rd year Podiatry students

Sometimes, in some cases, breath can be wasted.

 

Hi Ben,
I'm really pleased you have found something you enjoy and are so enthusiast about. I never regretted choosing podiatry for my career, and even though things have taken me on a slightly different path, I don't forget where my roots are. You know where I am if you need any help

BW
Judith

 

Judith so things have taken a slighthly different path for you.....that has happened to so many of my classmates...for the simple reason there were no NHS Jobs and they struggled to find patients for their private practice. So in order to take care of their families they had to abandon Podiatry.....

 

Actually Lovefeet, its not a case of abandoning podiatry. I did have an NHS job for around ten years after graduating, I then went into pod education for about ten years, and found that teaching gave me just as much satisfaction as the clinical work, which I really enjoyed. Other opportunities came along that offered me the chance to really push myself so now I teach med students, and am doing educational research.

I haven't abandoned my profession, I've taken opportunities that have been presented and made it work for me. There have been many knock-backs and disappointments along the way, as there will be for everyone, but I've learned from them, not sat and wallowed in self-pity. I also hope I've given back to the profession in some way.

I think you get the career and level of success that reflects your attitude... so think on Lovefeet.
JBB

 

Now you train med students.....of course yes....not good enough to train as a doctor, obviously that would really be pushing yourself, but happy to train them.....Just as well I am leaving the country and going to study medicine in a reputable country. One where the lectures are properly degree qualified folk in their speciality fields....not a Podiatrist training med students....says it all!!!

 

Judith ......you not by any chance judith barbaro-brown, who liases with the podiatry section of the dept of health....If so, you not the Podiatrist by any chance who is responsible for pushing for the social dept to take over routine nail care....???

Anyway apologies for behaving like a troll towards you with my last post.....am not walllowing in self pity....just letting the podiatry students know what kind of place it is like out there in the real world...And if they have any sense if they going to go into private practice, to rather be FHP... as it is alot of less hassle...and less expensive...

And I am pleased that you doing well for yourself.....Will be doing the same once I am qualified as a Medical Doctor....

 

Love feet,
Yes I am Judith barbaro-brown, and no, have nothing to do with liaising on social health/nail care, absolutely nothing to do with me thank goodness! I do liaise with the DoH on other issues such as IP for pods and physios, and have been part of the project board and working groups prepping the documentation for this, and with the ongoing activities to see the project through.

I made a conscious decision not to do medicine, and you are incredibly rude to make aspersions about my ability and knowledge. It's obvious that you are completely ignorant about medical education, and what is involved in training doctors. I'm glad you won't be at my medical school, and pleased you are leaving the pod profession, you are not an asset.

I won't be engaging further with you. Good luck in you career, but god help your patients.
Judith BB

 

I didn't believe I read that Judith was training medical students, but teaching them.

Some difference

 

Peter...same difference....training educating...same thing......

 

wrong,

I was taught Diabetes pathology very well.

The Educator wasn't an endocrinologist, he was a Pod and had a Physiology degree.

 

Judith, There are Podiatrist trying to push the podiatry profession into the social care dept....at the end of the day, they got cushy jobs.....New graduated Podiatrists struggle to set up businesses, they rely on toenail cuts for their bread and butter...This does not help the Podiatry profession in anyway......New graduates bail out cos of the struggle...Many of my classmates, within 2 years went back to university to retrain in other professions....others had to get other types of jobs to put food on their table. So I struggled to make a go of my private practice.....If only I was not so stubborn I should have given up after the 1st year...but I was so determined to make a difference in footcare in my neck of the woods....Well it did not work out for me...and 5 years on....I now have to go back to university to retrain in a profession which is almost guaranteed not to be competitive with unregulated personnel, and is a highly regarded profession in the world..

Whislt I wait for the start of my academic year, I want to make a difference for my Podiatry profession....I will work hard to ensure that the NHS pull funding from the Podiatry schools......Where the future lies with footcare is definately with FHPs...for the simple reason......if you can't beat them - then join them....it will be a lot less stress for students....and will cost a lot less,financially and less time consuming. I cannot believe I am finally saying this....FHP schools you win.....I finally succumbed!!!!!!

 

Well Peter you were training for a Podiatry degree....not to be a medic.....correct me if I am wrong

 

And, Lovefeet, she still does a huge amount for this profession and I believe, wishes to continue to do so in the future. I sincerely hope so since we can ill afford to lose her.

I don't have any great issue with you and I wish you all the luck in the world, if I were less ancient, less tired, and less thick, I would probably do the same as you. However, just as a tip for the future if I may, be as harsh as you wish on yourself, it will stand you in good stead, but before criticising others walk a mile in their shoes. You will find that Judith's in particular are an extremely big pair to wear. (Actually, they're quite small since she is a lady but it would ruin the aphorism to point that out)!

Try not to be bitter - it will destroy you, not those who are your enemies.

Bill Liggins

 

Bill....she can't be that big.....if she was, she would have got the entire profession properly statutory regulated (not having FHPs running riot). Also, pushing for an independent LA course does not put food on graduate podiatrists tables... pushing for Pod POMS does not put foot on graduate podiatrists tables....I guess when you are sitting in the white castle, and building a private practice is not a priority...then undertaking the challenges that she has would be her inspiration....

For me....thinking of others less fortunate than myself has always been my motto..and because of that.....I will do my hardest to close Podiatry schools in the UK...Save a many future students a lot of grief and heartache.....

If we have to import "Podiatrists" in the future from India to fulfil the lack of home-grown Podiatrists ...so be it....But that should not be the case.....having plenty homegrown FHPs will do just fine.....

 

I know that this is my first post, but I felt I had to say something. As a podiatry student it saddens me to hear things like this. I am quite aware that jobs and business aren't as easy to come by as they may have once been. I still feel that my degree is only the start, my career is what I choose to make of it. You went into private practice straight after graduating, and couldn't make it work, but I think this says more about your business than the profession as a whole. The SCP doesn't owe us a living, and people have offered you help in this very thread.

Best of luck in your future endeavours, but would you kindly stop spouting poison about our profession and get on with whatever you chose to do.

 

Thank you CMM...I was just like you. I graduated....and applied for jobs all over the UK....tons of qualified Podiatrists, with so few NHS jobs. For the 1st 2 years I could not get a NHS Podiatry job. I was not sure whether to start up a private practice where I was living because I could very likely move away if a NHS job came up...In my day when you applied for a NHS job it was who you knew...not what you knew. The only expereince I got in my first 2 years was to undertake foot treatments on my friends and family whilst I worked in a differnt job other than Podiatry. Many of my friends had experienced the same thing and had given up sooner rather than later. After 2 years I gave up trying for a NHS job and moved to a smaller area, where there was no private Podiatrist, so I could start up a practice. So I guess, although been qualified for so long, I have only had a private practice for 3 years.

No matter how many times I begged The Society to help private Podiatrists, it fell on deaf ears. It would cost nothing for them to put a note on their website to state what the difference was between Pods and FHPs...it would cost them nothing to have a section on their website dedicated to provide support to private practice.

When you think that The Society Accredited Podiatry section also comprised of FHP, you knew that there was no support for Podiatrists.

I hope you have a better experience in Podiatry than I did....My uni time was great...and I have loved every minute of my time with my patients but that is where the bucks stops.....

If you go into private practice even more best of luck...

By the way, when you hand over your yearly fees to The Society and to the HCPC spare a thought for the FHPs who do not have to pay for those things......and the FHPs do the same work as you (except no nail surgery) and they get the same money as you (if you go into private practice).....but without the hassle or the grief....And when The Society doesn't support you......doesn't make much financial sense does it???????

Training Podiatry students at uni is a business.......Backsides on seats ensure lecturers able to keep their doors open.......Wouldn't you be happier to know that you could do the same foot treatments, and only have to take a 3 month long distance course with a 1- 2 week clinical experience......

These days FHPs are allowed to undertake many foot treatments in nursing homes, etc. Just think if you had a nursing home with 50 residents and charged £20 per person.....that is £1000. Unfortunately, I do not provide any nursing homes in my local area...a Foot Health Practitioner does them. The matrons of the nursing homes are very happy with the service provided by the FHP, and despite knowing the difference between a FHP and Pod. They do not feel they need to change to a Podiatrist.... I worked extremely hard to build up my private practice as a Podiatrist and was very proud of my HCPC registration. But knowing that it is futile to compete against the FHPs.. I know that I have to leave Podiatry altogether or just de-register myself from the HCPC to compete fairly. It goes against my grain to de-register from the HCPC....so have decided to retrain in another profession. I will approach the FHP nearer the time and see if she would want my patients...Afterall if she is good enough for the nursing homes, she will be good enough for my patients. Did I tell you that the FHP who does all the nursing homes and charges £20 per resident also works as a carer at one of the nursing homes.....

Good luck with Podiatry....hope you do not become disillusioned.....

 

I agree with cmatt, podiatry is exactly what you make it.

Let me give you a little business lesson lovefeet. I appreciate your concerns, as I too am concerned with these FHP's, but you just have to look at other professions out there. Lets take physiotherapy, chiropractors, sport massage therapists and osteopaths. If you look at what they do in terms of listing treatments, they're all very similar and cross over in terms of what they do. You could take an osteopath and sports massage therapist on the same high street offering the exact same treatments, and yet they both could be profitable because they know how to run a business!

I think you should look at how many major businesses out there who've folded within the last 5years, comet, hmv etc. it's not just your business that maybe struggling, so you decide to place the blame elsewhere....

If your good, then people will come. If your good they'll tell their friends to come. Word of mouth. Then the FHP's will have less patients so you'll be all good! Happy days!

 

No-one can do everything. However, if those who constantly whinge had done one third of what JBB has done for this profession, then the situations of which you complain would never have come about. When you look at Judith (and others, I suspect) from your own perspective, you only see the surface. I have been fortunate enough to have worked with her from time to time and have seen the vast amount of behind the scenes activity and can tell you that without a shadow of a doubt you underestimate the lady and her input.

In fairness, it really means nothing to you now in any case since you are going your own way, so there is little point in prolonging your agony and I will not do so.

All the best

Bill Liggins

 

I am not going to have a go about Judith...she lives her life I live mine. She was more successful at it than me. I did my best to get The Society to do more to support the private practitioner (which is where my interests lie) and failed dismally...so yes at the end of the day, Judith was more successful than me. Am I jealous of her. No not all, just sad, that those who could have done more to help support the private practitioner, chose instead, to follow their own interests, i.e. Pod POMS, starting LA courses.

I love been a Podiatrist, I love my patients, but I cannot compete in the UK as a private Podiatrist, without the support of The Society, and the HCPC, and that is why I have finally decided to chuck it in......

As mentioned before The Society allow FHPs to endorse themselves as approved podiatrists on The Society website. The HCPC can't tackle FHPs calling themselves Pods, if the HCPC only have a telephone number for the FHP.....And then not to mention, all social services in the UK are allowed to chose whether they want to use a Pod or a FHP to look after their service-users feet. So basically all my hard work for my Podiatry degree and HCPC registration is useless. There is no point having a "gold standard" if the non-gold standard folk are the ones getting the money (in my neck of the woods anyway)

I leave you with the following articles to read....after reading them, question yourself if the Pod profession is very different to the FHP profession:-

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2167882/The-bunion-surgeons-maiming-patients.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/london/hi/tv_and_radio/newsid_8400000/8400189.stm

 

You may be a failure as a podiatrist, Lovefoot, but no one can possibly call you unprofessional - at least in one sense...

 

YYYEEEEAAAHHHHHHHHHH............Do I get first prize?

 

Lovefeet,

yes I was training in Podiatry, does that mean my theory lectures HAD to be delivered by Podiatrists, or Educators.

I recently trained to be a sonographer, does that mean my Physics lectures HAD to be delivered by Sonographers, or a skilled educator with a profound knowedge of the physics of sound?

Your mind is made up, how can so many folks on this side of the argument be wrong. I hope you put as much effort into Medicine as you do into denigrating UK podiatry.

 

I echo Twirly's sentiment. Please, admin, this armpit of a thread is adding nothing and has become nothing more than a forum for someone I choose to believe is merely very mistaken to continue to embarrass themselves in public. Make it stop!

 

"Why do you think I want to campaign to get Podiatry schools closed for 5 years."
As a podiatrist who works in a strategic education commissioning and quality role for non-medical education, I am bemused at your grasp of education commissioning and the contractual obligations both HEIs and the SHA/shadow LETB's have.....

 

Initially, we were all bemused. Then it just became irritating.....back on the ignore list. I`d recommend it.



Anyway, back in the groove machine;
Ooh, that ha`penny!!!....and what`s with the turf? I vote we divert every `Lovefoot` thread to more important things in life. Like Rugger.

 

Well I have not logged on to this site for a good while now Mr Blinda, and madame's posts have proved to be a excellent distraction from getting on with my logistical regression analysis....

 

Logistical regression analysis notwithstanding, go nuts. Enjoy Lovefoots' distractive thoughts. :drinks


Cheers,
Master blinda

 

Sorry to butt in - it's not Mr Blinda. The clue is in the name Blinda, as in Belinda.
Carry on folks!

 

And who are you to determine Mr Blinda's activities in her/his free time? Are you the HCPC?

Mind you, she was a girl last time I met her but then, I'm not judgmental!

Cheers

Bill

 

Interesting...i thought all the diehards were bleating to have this thread removed and yet mr moderator here quotes...."carry on folks."

Peter...in answer to your reply - depending what country you study in. The country I will be studying in is superior to the UK, already checked and qualified medical doctors specialising in their field will be teaching us the subjects....Also, how reassuring that it is a registered Medical Doctor who undertook my interview....as opposed to a Podiatrist (Chiropodist) interviewing me for Med School to see if I would make a good GP.....Say no more!!!

Anyway, hope everyone is having a good weekend....am having a blast...can't wait to enjoy the blue skies and twang accents....

 

Too much to hope that there is no internet access there I suppose...

 

Your rich daddy is paying for your med degree......could he not have paid to save your uterus !!!!! you are truly mental. Which Doctor signed you fit for practise? I have not p1ssed myself laughing so much for years..... thanks xxxxx

 

just a thought... but isn't the hysterectomy a little permanent, yea you might not have felt you could support kids now... but what if you win the lottery, have a distant aunt leave you thousands? suddenly get one of your 'famous' clients to give you a windfall? or your business suddenly take off!! seems to me you had no regard for the future and your living your own self made hell! but who am i to know? i don't know you? its just a guess...:boohoo:

just as a point from another pod view... I couldn't afford kids when I had them, but i hoped one day i would! they were tiny when i was at university... it was a struggle... I couldnt 'afford them' but i managed... most people do!

i don't think anyone can 'afford kids' but they really don't cost that much... Its not money kids need for a good quality of life, its love, understanding and your time!

you dont need to buy in to all the hype... i got everything i needed 2nd hand too. but im sure glad I had them now as with my private practice taking off and a case load that keeps me in 4 holidays a year, two caravans my 2nd house in sussex, supports my parents who have no income, and my two older boys and one still at home... also i indirectly financially support two other people and give time any money to charities. My clinic now employs 4 people (myself, two other pods and an FHP - yay to FHP's!) giving them an income too...

and this jan (13) I finally paid off my student loans after graduating in 2001

so for any 3rd year students don't give up, there is hope after graduation, have kids if you want them, dont have them if you dont want them... go forth work hard and be fruitful!

and like Mark offered, if you want to see how a well run, modern, compliant, self sustaining pod clinic can run... please come and visit us... if nothing else we have lovely beaches :drinks

 

lovefeet are you sure your not R' Robertisaacs in disguise ...who's bored at work?? igs:


you do sound far too troll to be real! LOL but thank you all the same for making my slightly dull day pass quicker, give my FHP a hernia laughing and make me feel im not :deadhorse:

thank you for making me realise how much i love my job!:drinks