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Podiatrist-should I be able to see one?

donnellysdogs

donnellysdogs

Master
Messages
13,233
Location
Northampton
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Pump
Dislikes
People that can't listen to other people's opinions.
People that can't say sorry.
I am 45, had diabetes since 20 years old.
Am now suffering quite badly with a few of my joints, including my left hip.
I went to my GP last week, and asked to see a podiatrist, as I am unable to raise my left leg to cut my toe nails.
My GP who is supposedly the GP responsible for diabetes at my clinic said he wouldn't refer me, as I should get my husband to cut the nails. He also totally ignored why my hip should be so bad as well.
I have previously had he sides of my big toe nails removed due to being ingrown, and up until last week the GP refused to give me the tablets for fungal problems with them, as he said the problems would return once I stopped taking them. I am now living in South Wales, and am wondering why my NHS is so bad compared to Towcester, where I had an absolutely superb GP...and a podiatrist.
My questions are:
Can my GP refuse to send me to a podiatrist?
What should I do?
I would greatly appreciate some advice......many thanks
 
Re: Should I be able to see someone about my feet?

Hi Donnelly,
Yes you should be able to see a podiatrist, as a diabetic I get an annual appointment, someone on the Board has said you can self refer, if you can't get any help from your GP perhaps you should try ringing your local hospital.

Regards Graham
 
Re: Should I be able to see someone about my feet?

Haven't been under hospital care for years, but am quite shocked by the level of care from this GP compared to my last GP. Perhaps, I should be asking to get referred to a consultant at the hospital and get better care?
 
Re: Should I be able to see someone about my feet?

Is there a practice manager at your health centre? If so complain about this there.Every diabetic should get podiatrist care twice yearly or more often if necessary.
 
Re: Should I be able to see someone about my feet?

Thank you, I hate complaining when I don't know for sure on where I stand.........is twice a year care by a podiatrist standard care in all of the UK for diabetics? So often, I am told that things are different here in Wales. I need to be prepared, as I have got an appointment with a GP on Friday and am taking my husband with me.....is the NHS service expectations and standards definitely the same here?
I am so glad that it appears I should have someone other than my husband cutting my toe nails.
I guess there will be a Practice Manager, and I will definitely ask to see her/him......
 
Re: Should I be able to see someone about my feet?

It's one of those uniquely British things. The National in NHS doesn't apply to Scotland, Wales, or Northern Ireland, I heard someone refer to those countries as the Celtic fringe (don't blame me, it's not my fault really! :D). Each of the countries in this United Kingdom has its own brand of National Health Service :!: go figure for efficiency savings :!:

Scotland has it's own version of NICE called SIGN and as I understand it Wales and Northern Ireland follow NICE guidelines. Perhaps someone better informed can tell us whether or not the Diabetes NSF is truly national or just an English initiative - I rather suspect the latter.

I agree with Sue though, you should be referred to a podiatrist if you ask and in theory (in England at least) you should also be able to self refer as well.

Regards, Tubs.
 
Re: Should I be able to see someone about my feet?

donnellysdogs said:
I am now living in South Wales, and am wondering why my NHS is so bad compared to Towcester, where I had an absolutely superb GP...and a podiatrist.
My questions are:
Can my GP refuse to send me to a podiatrist?
What should I do?
I would greatly appreciate some advice......many thanks
Click to expand...

Tubs is spot on.

However,
If we knew which area of South Wales you are in it may help, that area is broken down into other areas, Newport, Gwent, Monmouth and so on. They are not all covered by the same rules.

Ken.
 
Re: Should I be able to see someone about my feet?

As I am a HCP in South wales may be able to ans this one. Yes you should have access but podiatry services are patchy due to shortages of staff. The Assembly is responsible for health care in Wales and is often far more pro active than in England because we are smaller.

You should get access to a community based podaitrist - GPs do not have their own podiatry staff as they were taken out of surgeries a few years ago because of streilising equipment issues.

Where are you - may be able to guide to the local services.
 
hmmm, I would try and get a second opinion, maybe see a different dr at the same practise?
I have had issues with my knee joints for ages and the dr was useless as they told me to rest, but that the only way the joints would improve is with exercise. I was geting nowhere so i asked to be referred to a physio to get some info on how to improve my joints. May be you could too? that way you'l be able to reach your toe nails.Also the physio then referred me to a podiatrist because i had fallen arches. So i would definately suggest getting a second opinion.
GPs can't absolutely refuse you, but if they don't think its worth it then they tend not too, even if you disagree. They don't know everything!
if fact, if you are seeing someone with regards to your hip then maybe they can refer you?

hope this helps

Nomi
 
Nomi.
Ally can pobably tell you the rules, but in England, yyou can self refer as a diabetic and don't need to go through the GP. PM Ally555. she will probably know.
 
hana - in Wales you cannot self refer at the mo and tbh I dont think services could cope. I am hearing in nhs circles that some trustsin England are not going down the self ref route for that reason. Most of us thought it was a gimic anyway - there was no thought on the impact on existing services!

Alot of surgeries do have physios - both the practices I work for have a physio.

It just depends where you are and alot also depends on the enthusiasm of your GP and nurses!!!!!!
 
donnellysdogs said:
I am 45, had diabetes since 20 years old.
Am now suffering quite badly with a few of my joints, including my left hip.
I went to my GP last week, and asked to see a podiatrist, as I am unable to raise my left leg to cut my toe nails.
My GP who is supposedly the GP responsible for diabetes at my clinic said he wouldn't refer me, as I should get my husband to cut the nails. He also totally ignored why my hip should be so bad as well.
I have previously had he sides of my big toe nails removed due to being ingrown, and up until last week the GP refused to give me the tablets for fungal problems with them, as he said the problems would return once I stopped taking them. I am now living in South Wales, and am wondering why my NHS is so bad compared to Towcester, where I had an absolutely superb GP...and a podiatrist.
My questions are:
Can my GP refuse to send me to a podiatrist?
What should I do?
I would greatly appreciate some advice......many thanks
Click to expand...

I was told that as a diabetic, I should take foot problems to A&E. Also we get an annual visit to the local clinic podiatrist to do all the checks. You should not need referring to the clinic podiatrist - just get an appointment for the diabetic foot clinic.

However, we've just been advised of a super new service - free nail cutting at Brentford clinic - at least 2 buses & an hour's journey each way - probably standing.
 
I had an ingrowing toe nail and the gp put me onantibiotics. It cleared and then started up again. Someone told me I could just go to podiatry, so I rang them. I got an appointment, the podiatrist clipped down the side of my toenail and removed the "spur" that was causing the problem. cut my nail curved, no straight across, dressed it with iodine and a bandage and that was the end of it. Now if I feel it starting up again, I clip down the side of the nail and get the offending bit out.
I wear sensible shoes, but have stupid feet.
 
Thank you so much everybody, I live in Ammanford, Carmarthen, and think I will approach a 2nd gp first, and then the practice manager.
I have never experienced any problems previously with any care from my GP in 20+ years, and this refusal has completely baffled me, as I thought footcare was pretty much top priuority for all diabetics...live and learn.....
Many thanks everyone for your advice, Iwill let you know how I get on
 
Ask around your friends, colleagues, pharmacists and especially other diabetics, see if you can't find a GP who has a clue (unfortunately in such a small place you may be out of luck).

I go to a private podiatrist simply because I can walk there and back and know them personally, the alternative is a drive over an hour to one of the hospitals and a long wait, so it is quite cost effective vs. a gallon of diesel and a £4.50 car parking fee and half a day wasted
 
This is interesting...I have been diabetic for over 30 years...T1, and have never seen a podiatrist...the nurse does that prod your feet with a bendy wire thing once a year, but that is it. I guess, if it is not a problem, then they don't waste time. Mind you, I have my appointment to see the consulant cancelled 6 times now, and won't see them for over a year.

I live in Berkshire..I don't think that it is just Wales.

Thank you to this site.... you are helping me become my own consulatant!
 
Update.......

I went to a different GP at the same surgery with my husband in tow.

The 2nd GP again said I could not be referred to a podiatrist as there wasn't any funds. So my husband then said we would approach the Assembly Member for Health in Wales. GP still said again there was no funding.

I got home, and there was a phone call from the 2nd GP, who apologised and said 'I am sorry I didn't realise that you were diabetic, I will refer you'. I have now had 2 appointments sent to me!!!!

However, the GP DID know I was diabetic, as I asked again to have my eyes screened and checked by the mobile unit, as it has been almost 2 years since I have had an appointment, and the GP had all of my medical notes in front of him on his computer screen.

I am totally stunned that I should have to fight to get an appointment for the podiatrist, and that I still have not had an appointment with for my retinopathy check. Now I have asked to be referred to the hospital consultant for the care of my diabetes.
 
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