Podiatry (Western Trust)

The Western Trust Podiatry service provides specialist clinical services to those patients most at risk of foot health problems/conditions.

The Podiatry service provides specialist advice and treatment for high-risk patients suffering from complex nail and foot conditions. We hold outpatient clinics in GP practices and the main hospital sites.

Podiatry services are delivered by a skilled team of podiatrists and podiatry assistants. All our Podiatrists are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council and have completed a minimum of three years of accredited training at degree level or an equivalent qualification.

The service works closely with the Ulster University to support BSc (Hons) Podiatry students with work-based learning.

Referral to the Podiatry Service can be made via your GP or another health care professional or by contacting the Podiatry Team. Contact details are below.

All referrals are triaged on receipt as access criteria are in place for podiatry treatment.

The Podiatry team work across a range of clinical settings in the hospital and community to provide a comprehensive foot health service, which includes:

• Nail surgery
• Podiatric management of foot pathology for patients with the following conditions: diabetes, vascular, oncology, rheumatology and renal disease
• Wound Care
• Musculoskeletal service – the treatment of mechanical foot problems with special appliances or insoles
• Integrated Clinical Assessment and Treatment Service (ICATS)

Podiatrists assess, diagnose and treat people with feet, ankle and lower limbs problems. They aim to improve mobility, independence and quality of life for their patients and to help reduce complications associated with all risk conditions affecting the feet.

These problems can be caused by a range of conditions, including:

• bone and joint disorders, for example, arthritis
• soft tissue and muscular pathologies
• neurological and circulatory diseases
• foot injuries and infections caused by sports and other activities

In hospital, you can be referred to the podiatry service by medical staff for assessment and advice.

In the community, you can contact the service directly through the referral number listed below. You can also ask a GP, family member or other healthcare professional to do it for you.

Central Booking Service: 02871 864399

Referral lines are open: Monday to Thursday from 9:00AM – 5:00PM Friday from 9:00AM – 4:30PM