The Podiatry service is a high risk foot health service which offers advice, support and care (based on clinical need).
Getting support from the Podiatry Team
To access our service please complete our self-referral form here.
Once we receive your form a member of our team will review the information you have provided. If you have a condition listed in the ‘what we treat’ section you will receive a phone call or a letter with an appointment.
If your referral form is missing information, we will try to contact you via telephone, we may have to return the form to you if we cannot make a decision based on the information you have provided. Please provide as much information as possible and fully complete the form so that we can deal with your referral as quickly as possible.
What we treat:
Urgent Conditions
If you have exposed tissue or complications due to diabetes it is important you get help quickly.
We aim to see you urgently if you have:
- Ulceration on your foot - This is when an area of skin has broken down and the tissue under it is exposed.
If you are showing signs of fever or sepsis you should call 999 or attend A&E.
- Charcot foot – This is a serious complication of diabetes that can develop if you have nerve damage and you may have:
- A red, hot, swollen toe or foot
- A new break or wound in the skin
- New redness or discoloration of your toe or foot
- New or unexplained pain in your foot
- Have ingrown nails with inflammation and infection (please let us know if you are taking antibiotics for infection)
- Have curved nails with infection
- Have Diabetes and have a foot risk category of moderate, high risk or in remission
- Are unable to carry out your day to day responsibilities at work or study or as a carer due to a condition affecting the muscles, bones or tendons of your foot or ankle.
Less-Urgent Conditions
If your condition is causing you pain or discomfort but isn’t stopping you doing your day to day activities we will book you in for a routine appointment. Routine appointments are offered if you have:
- Painful musculoskeletal foot problems in children and adults.
- Require assessment for foot care such as a painful nail, corn or callous - note this is only offered for patients who have been classified with a moderate or high diabetic foot risk, patients who are under the care of the specialist vascular team, patients with neurological disorders (e.g. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Stroke) or patients who have been told they are immune suppressed due to medication, dialysis, chemo or radiotherapy.
Patients with a low risk diabetic status will not be seen
What we don’t treat.
The following services are not offered by NHS Borders Podiatry. Please note referral forms for these services will be rejected. Some information on the condition and on self-care is included below.
- Basic personal foot care and nail cutting - self-help information
- Thickened or misshapen nails - self-help information
- Fungal nail infections - self-help information
- Athlete’s foot - self-help information
- Callous and corns for people who are not at risk of foot ulceration - self-help information
- Non-painful foot deformites, including flat feet without pain - information on non-painful flat feet
- Verrucae - information on verrucae and warts
If you have an urgent problem including a wound affecting your foot or ankle or an infected ingrown toenail you can call us. The office is open from 9.30am - 4.30pm Monday to Friday.
Contact us: Podiatryadmin@borders.scot.nhs.uk or 01896 827427
Podiatry Service Lead: John Smith
We value your feedback - Care Opinion