The Alliance of Private Sector Chiropody & Podiatry Practitioners

Here's a thought for you....the NHS may well have trained chiropodists/podiatrists in the UK for the last 50 years - but probably for not much longer. The NHS doesn't train podiatrists in the USA where the colleges are funded independently and the courses are far superior to those provided in the UK. In order for podiatry to survive in this country - it is likely that we will need to fund our own college(s) independently in future, which means running it as a business - with investment from a variety of sources. The existing educational platform via the NHS is all you know - that much is quite obvious. That doesn't necessarily mean its the best or without its faults or weaknesses. Rather than revert to the usual snip and growl you might be better off in your career - and life - by learning from experience. But that takes time - and a little maturity. Look, listen and learn. From your patients and colleagues - in this profession and others. Take your blinkers off and use reason and common sense and don't fall into the same trap as some other colleagues have over the years and take your frustrations out on those who perhaps haven't been as fortunate as yourself. If you are trying to reach a goal which appears elusive - take a different road, otherwise you will come to the same end as many of those before you. Be positive and courteous to everyone - especially to those who you might consider least deserving of your praise. Most of all be true and honest with yourself - otherwise you will fail at every hurdle.

Good night.

 

Agreed Mark - about the American Podiatry set up. But Podiatrists in USA are first and foremost medical doctors. Something which we are not. I also do not see british Podiatrists becoming like the American Podiatrists, because of the training regime and the length of stuying, etc.

Yes, I am sure Podiatry in the UK will evolve over time. One thing I am sure of though, is that it will not be going backwards, i.e. deregistration of statutory regulation.

I think the NHS rely on Podiatry students clinics to operate some of the clinics (where the students undertake their training), but where there are no students, you find that those clinics are more likely to discharge patients.

I do disagree with you that it will be private institutions training Podiatrists in the future. The reason is that Podiatry is a BSc university degree. This means that it will remain as a course obtained through university. If the NHS does "disband" well then maybe clinical training will be done at private hospitals......who knows....

 

No.

I think you would do well to comment less on things you clearly have little or no first hand knowledge of.

The NHS do offer placements to students (In my dept its 4 weeks a year) but as to relying in students, thats nonsense. Student placements involve a considerable investment on our part, an investment we are willing and happy to make, but its as far from relying on them as its possible to get.

As to clinics being more likely do discharge patients if they don't have students, that also is arrant nonsense and pure supposition on your part. Unless you've looked at comparing NHS access criteria for trusts who do and don't have students on placement. Which you rather obviously have not. Here you are simply wrong.

You're opinions are welcome. But please try to get your facts right before speculating on matters upon which you have no information.

 

Dear Robert Isacs, I believe I can comment on this. Having studied a 3 year Podiatry degree, and going to clinical training one day per week for 3 years, me thinks me know what I am banging on about.

In a small specialised clinic you probably would would only experience students 4 weeks per year. At a better university, like the one I attended, you would go to clinic 1 day per week. Students studying in each year, had to go to clinic between 1 - 2 day per week (what day depended on what year you were in).

Students were relied upon because patient bookings were made as per the amount of students there were in the class. 30 students per day treating 5 patients per day, is equal to 150 patients per day. I do not believe that 4 x full-time NHS clinical staff (which is what we had overseing us) could treat that many on their own every day.

The patients at this clinic were relied upon in order for students to practice on, and good thing to. We were very well trained....It was a top notch uni and fantastic clinical experience.....

 

Where did you train?

 

David....a Uni that does not offer foot heath practitioner courses.

 

good - where?

 

Interesting David, that you typed "good", considering that on one of the other foot forum websites you gave advice to someone stating how good the SMAE Institution was for Foot Health Practitioner Course.......Not sure it would benefit you any knowing the uni I went to.....Lets just say, when you come across an excellent, well-trained, brilliant Pod, chances are good that they trained at my uni....

 

Lovefeet

Why be coy about this? I don't understand why naming your Uni is a problem? Being proud of where you were trained is perfectly natural and, if someone is thinking of choosing one over another, is possibly helpful in helping them decide...

 

Troll........