The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists A guide to the benefits of podiatry to patient care

The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists has developed this guidance in response to the challenges facing the NHS to increase quality, innovation, productivity and prevention (QIPP) whilst continuing to deliver services in this time of austerity. This guide will focus on the importance and benefits of podiatry in: • reducing secondary care intervention • maintaining independence of vulnerable groups through good foot health • preventing mobility difficulties through earlier intervention allowing patients to remain in their own homes. The guide will also highlight the different specialist and clinical modalities delivered through a comprehensive podiatry service and will cover the various health education and promotion strategies used to arrest and stop the development of preventable foot problems and empower patients towards self-care. The guide takes into account current healthcare policy and all the information given is based on existing research evidence and current practice. The document offers commissioners and managers of healthcare services guidance on the different clinical aspects of podiatry provided in both in the NHS and the private sector. Examples are given using case studies and good practice models that have been developed to meet local needs and innovate services in response to different challenges. These examples have demonstrated measurable improvements in meeting the QIPP agenda including patient care and waiting times, quality and productivity increases and whole systems transformation, “to do things differently” and “do different things” with demonstrable cost benefits across the heath economy