Interesting that it's Age Concern making the running on this issue, rather than the professional bodies.
It all begs the question (which has been aired on other threads), who should carry out this service?
Is it the job of the highly trained podiatrist or an assistant or Age Concern employees with very basic training?
Should the patients (clients) be provided with the service by graduate pp's or FHPs and what, if anything, should the contribution of the 'government' ie. taxpayers, ie. us, be?
Whatever the case, it seems that once again the professional bodies are allowing themselves to get left behind, are failing to promote their membership and are not being perceived as the authority on all things feet.
Couldn't agree more, Bill. Given the prevarication by the Society on this issue - they remained silent on 'service redesign' and 'rationalisation' for many years even when it was quite obvious that hundreds of thousands of patients were systematically being removed from NHS lists - the spectre of vested interests rears its ugly head once more. One would have thought that a Trade Union would shout the loudest on behalf of the elderly, infirm and socially excluded - but perhaps not when a significantly influential proportion of its Council Members are those who introduced the policies which excluded patients in the first place! Also interesting that the Society has been singularly unhelpful in assisting members in private practice with the Commissioning process. A conflict of interest perhaps?
I do so wish that Age Concern would stop pulling this one out of the bag and get to know the private sector footcare providers a little more. 6 months on and how many have dropped you a line to see what care you can provide and at what cost? I bet many more of us have contacted them to be met with a brick wall.
Thoroughly enjoyed seeing a half dozen well informed potential customers of Age Concern today. Full of the joys of spring they were and quite happy to pay £10 for a 10 min nail cut. Are these people better informed than Age Concern? Perhaps. But they can spot a good deal and are more than happy to pay full price if a podiatry problem crops up!
I am sorry, I just can't deal with this pensioners can't afford it rubbish. What about Social Care payments? Are they given to be spent or saved?
There should be a system whereby People who only require routine nail can access this care from a local Private Practitioner.:drinks
The NHS is a Health Care Provider and should only provide care that is Health based eg Diabetes Wound care Rheumatic conditions.
This way the NHS could better target its money on those with greatest need and thus keep them out of Hospital.:drinks
Private Practice is the BEST Environment for the provision of this service.
No matter what happens the NHS will always be unable to meet demand so use another provider PRIVATE PRACTICE.:bang:
God this topic Micturates me off.:boxing:
Especially the so called vested interest charities who bleat on long and loud about a simple service that could be provided easily within private practice.:deadhorse: