Our Services
Podiatry
The aim of the podiatry service is to contribute to the health and wellbeing of residents within the Bolton borough by reducing the number of foot problems and maintaining comfort, health and mobility.
We assess, diagnose and treat conditions affecting the foot and lower limb and have developed specific expertise across all areas of podiatry.
Podiatry treat high risk foot conditions, ingrown toenails, foot ulcerations and MSK conditions.
The aim of our service is treat high risk patients with high risk foot problems, including ingrown toenails, and reducing and managing the occurrence of foot ulcerations and amputations in the Bolton population.
- Assessment and management of foot complaints associated with diabetic patients diagnosed as high risk at screening
- Assessment and management of high risk patients
- Treatment of foot ulcerations
- Specialist wound care services for complex foot ulcerations
- Nail surgery under local anaesthetic and post-operative care
- Specialist assessment and treatment of those with connective tissue disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis
- Provide assessment and intervention for those patients with painful foot conditions where this has reduced mobility and independence
- Assessment and management of inpatients with painful foot conditions
- Provide management of foot pain, making onward referrals for orthoses where appropriate
- Provide footwear advice and referral for orthotics as part of personalised care plans
- Provide foot health education information and public health information and to signpost to services
- Contribute towards falls prevention and maintain mobility and independence
At your first appointment your medical history, medications and any concerns you have will be discussed. An assessments and some basic neurological and circulation tests will be performed.
Once your assessment is complete your treatment plan will be discussed with you by the podiatrist. Not all conditions require treatment. You may be discharged and advice will be provided on how to manage your symptoms at home.
Complex conditions may need a course of treatment; further appointments will be arranged with you as required and discharged when completed.
Patients who are completely housebound and are unable to attend any other NHS appointments may be provided with a home visit, if they meet the eligibility criteria.
Diabetes Podiatry
The diabetes podiatry team are a highly specialised service providing advanced care for active diabetic foot problems.
We provide multi-disciplinary care of active foot problems for people with diabetes at risk of worsening ulceration, infection or amputation.
We see and treat eligible patients who reside in Bolton and are registered with a Bolton GP.
We also work as part of an integrated multidisciplinary team with diabetes.
- Wound care
- Healing, specialist dressings and pressure relieving techniques
- Non-medical prescribing of appropriate antibiotics at the point of care
- Charcot Neuroarthropathy
- Casting for wounds and Charcot foot
- Work closely with specialist Podiatrists and Orthotists to provide pressure relieving devices, bespoke insoles and footwear to patients who have had diabetic foot problems
- Referral access to imaging such as X-Ray and vascular scans
- Access to microbiology and radiology teams for quick advice and guidance
- Referral to Diabetes Consultant for management of painful diabetes neuropathy
Your lower limb vascular and neurological status will be assessed and both feet will be checked at each appointment. A plan for care will then be made between you and the podiatrist.
The following items are useful to bring to your first appointment:
- A list or blister pack(s) of your medications.
- Blood sugar control is very important in the process of wound healing. If home blood sugar testing is done, a blood glucose diary would be very helpful to bring along.
- Wear or bring your normal footwear and slipper to clinic. Inappropriate footwear is a major cause of diabetic foot ulcers.
- Please wear wide leg trousers or loose clothing that can easily slip over something bulky on your feet just in case.
On certain days, we offer specialist input in clinic from a Podiatric Surgeon and Consultant Microbiologist.
Each patient will have their medical history checked.
- Nail cutting
- General Podiatry/Chiropody
- Leg ulcers / wounds on or above the ankle
- Compression
- Diabetic Foot Screening (currently provided annually by your GP practice)
- Vascular issues not relating to diabetes
Podiatry Biomechanics
The aim of the Biomechanics service is to contribute to the health and wellbeing of our population regarding associated musculoskeletal, lower limb problems; such as foot, ankle, knee and hip pain.
We assess, diagnose and treat the underlying symptoms and associated conditions via gait analysis, biomechanical assessment, orthoses provision, physical therapy and footwear advice when needed.
- Biomechanical assessment
- Provision of bespoke orthoses (insoles) and modified ‘off-shelf- devices
- Provision of CADCAM assisted orthoses
- Footwear advice with home exercise programmes
- Extra-corporeal shock wave therapy
- Onward referral to other services
- At your initial assessment a detailed history of your problem will be documented.
- You will have a detailed physical examination of your lower limbs. This will include an assessment of your joints, assessment of muscle strength and weakness and assessment of tissue viability.
- You will be provided with bespoke foot orthoses (insole devices), and appropriate footwear advice to meet your clinical need.
- Physical therapy and advice.
- Referrals are accepted for patients with all underlying health conditions and diagnoses.
- Following initial referral from an appropriate healthcare professional, the service operates an on-going self-referral system to ensure you will always have a future point of contact.
Patient information
Please click on the following links for further information:
Key contact numbers
Podiatry
Tel: 01204 462626
Podiatry Biomechanics
Tel: 01204 462710
Single Point of Access
Tel: 01204 462626
Email: Community.SPA@boltonft.nhs.uk