• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Would you like the nurse to cut your toenails?

  • Thread starter Thread starter catherinecherub
  • Start Date Start Date
C

catherinecherub

Guest
"Due to the increase in Diabetes, having Diabetes alone is no longer a reason to receive free chiropody. Only those people with Diabetes who are considered at risk such as Peripheral Neuropathy have had previous foot ulcers have access to free podiatry".

I personally think that Nurses do not have the necessary skills and unless they are trained to cut our nails, it should be left to the professional Chiropodists/Podiatrists. We know that badly cut nails can complicate problems for Diabetics. It sounds to me like a cost cutting exercise and will impose more work on Nurses and see some Podiatrists who work for the NHS without a job. What do you think?

http://www.nursingtimes.net/nursing-pra ... 43659.blog
 
Personally I wouldn't let anybody else cut my toenails. That's just me though, feet freak me out!

I get my feet checked at my GPs. They check my pulse and sensation. Also give them a quick once over and tell me if I need to be doing anything else (usually stop wearing high heels - my appointments are usually before or after work and always happen to fall on days when I have meetings. I honestly don't wear heels 24/7!). I have never seen a chiropodist. I feel perfectly capable in cutting my own nails ni know it is important that toe nails are cut correctly. It's also important that I take my injections each day and keep my sugars within target range, but I manage to do that on my own!

This is just my opinion, but I agree that not every diabetic needs access to free podiatry care. If checks can be done properly by a diabetic nurse then I see no reason why this isn't sufficient. Clearly I'd there are any problems or issues then you should be referred ASAP. I'd much rather it was done this way if I'm completely honest.

Emma
 
I worry about the people who may have poor eyesight, mobility issues etc. who find it very difficult to cut their nails. This service was available until recently and services are slowly being eroded.
 
I didn't know nails were a problem until now!! :shock: but I agree,if you're capable,like me and many others,of cutting your own nails,then a one off,quick lesson on how to do it right should suffice but I feel that people who are unable through disability,age,etc should still be offered such services as any infections,inpatient stays and surgery to correct a complication that has arised through poor diabetic foot care would counter act any money saved by removing the service altogether.
 
I've never been offered a podiatrist appointment but it's ok for people like me as i'm young and flexible enough to reach my feet but pensioner s can have trouble accessing helpr.
 
If there is a reason who you can't cut your toenails properly then yes, I think help should be provided. Although I don't necessarily think this needs to be done by a chiropodist.

The NHS is making massive cutbacks at the minute and I haven't always agreed with the decisions that have been made. Hopefully help will still be freely provided to those who need it :)

All this talk of feet has made me a little queasy. Not sure why but they really do freak me out. Toes especially. Bleugh! Lol
 
I'm in two minds over this one...

As when I worked in the care field, I was trained to cut toe nails, the training was provided by a fully qualified Chiropodist due to the cut backs at the time, meaning that a lot of our clients/patients would no longer get access to free chiropody...

If the nurse it trained in how to cut nails, identify problems that need to be passed onto the chiropodist etc then I can't actually see the problem with it..

P.S

When you receive training on this type, you are taught not to cut the nail back as fair as a fully qualified chiropodist/Podiatrists would... Means that you need nails cut more often, but does keep you out of hitting problems..
 
jopar said:
If the nurse it trained in how to cut nails, identify problems that need to be passed onto the chiropodist etc then I can't actually see the problem with it..
Click to expand...


I agree as long as the training is thorough.
 
I can't cut my toenails due to my hip (on waiting list for a hip replacement), I can't bend down to do them myself so yes I would love for someone to cut them. I can't afford to pay privately.
 
This is an issue which has been dealt with very differently in different areas. Some PCTs and practices send all dibetes patients to the chuiropodist immediately . others offer walk-in centres at hospitals and the rest seem to deal with problems on a one-off
basis.
I know a number of diabetics who felt that these hecks were a waste of time , told them nothing they didnt know already and was If there is no If just another box-ticking exercise.
I am sure there are many who do need these services , however, and it does seeem ridiculous to force people who have no problems into chiropodist appoinments while denying others the opporunity when they need treatment.

II have never seen the point of all the tests and screening which we should have if there is no treatment available In these circumstances greater centralisation would seem to make sense so that patients are not subject to a postcode lottery.
 
I was (reluctantly!) sent to the podiatrist by our diabetes specialist GP because I have problems reaching my toenails because of weight (getting easier by the day!), and because of arthritis in spine, hips and knees. Also I have a dilemma - can't see to cut them without my contact lenses, and have to use reading glasses too when the lenses are in :roll: :lol:

I see the podiatrist once every 3 months and in between I cut some and file the others, as necessary. I could probably cope with once every 6 months, but I wouldn't like to lose her altogether.

The practice nurse does all the checks for pulses, feeling, sores etc. I think I would feel a bit embarrassed if the nurse cut my toenails - not what she's there for, and she has enough other work without having that added. The podiatrist chose to do feet as her profession. She is fascinated that I can't spread my toes at all!

I should add that my feet are very clean and neat and I have no corns or bunions etc. Just that my toe nails fit a bit strangely (sorry, Elc1112 :D )

Viv 8)
 
My diabetic nurse referred me to the podiatry department at the local health centre. When I first saw them they told me they recommend me to have one of my toenails removed. I said that I would think about it and the second time I saw them, she asked me again and I agreed to it.

I then had it done and it was the best thing I had done. I could wear my lovely shoes again :D

They discharged me after they had seen me twice after that but they said I could refer myself if I wanted to again.


Alison
 
I started to see a chiropodist years ago because I have a club foot and needed a lot of help to make it comfortable, I was regularly going every 3 months, then it stopped. I was asked recently (pre diabetes) if I wanted to start going again, but I decided that it was pointless as I wasnt prepared to have to wait 3 months if I had a problem, so I started paying, as I didnt have to wait so long, but havent been in a while. Do you guys think it would be a good idea to ask to be refered back to the NHS now I have the Diabetes to add to the mix??
And no not the nurse yuck, and I would be worried about it being done wrong, as my foot is delicate as it is.
 
When I was diagnosed I was offered an appointment with the NHS podiatrist, but as I work with a podiatrist I opted to see her instead. She did a diabetic foot check and told me that I need to be checked regularly because of my reduced sensation on my left side. I didn't score very well on the sensation tests on my left foot. She also told me to very careful cutting my toe nails because of that. I don't think I'd be happy for a nurse to cut my nails.

I find it quite ironic that nurses might cut toe nails. I remember when my dad was in hospital and the nurses commented on his nails which he had been unable to cut himself, but they refused to cut them for him. As soon as he finally got home my mum arranged a home visit from a podiatrist to cut them for him.
 
Ahh sensation could be a problem in my club foot as some of my toes have always felt odd, its covered in scars from 15 operations and its very sensitive and delicate anyway, so I have a feeling specific diabetes symptoms might be awkward to detect for anyone who doesnt know my foot, as it is very (how do I put this?) disfigured, mangled, deformed etc
 
You should definiely be eligible to see some professional Tinytoez. I never feel that the foot checks they do in the surgery are very reliable. More on a par wih the eye tests they used to do before reinal screening. The doctor looked at your etyes through a litle hand lens.Managed to srain my eye muscle too!

I should think they would know you would need some exa checks wh your hisory. No, you certainly don't want an untrained person messing about with your feet.
 
Back
Top