Services A to Z

The Podiatry Service offers an innovative and soundly governed Practice Based Learning (PrBL) programme. We utilize a blended learning provision which is centred on a Peer Assisted Learning (PAL) model. We aim to engage students in a programme of meaningful clinical thinking with the objective of maximising their capabilities and confidence within clinical decision making whilst delivering optimal person centred care.  

Over the course of an academic year, we offer in excess of one thousand placement weeks. Placements are offered to both institutes in Scotland offering entry qualifications into Podiatry. The two institutions offering Podiatry at undergraduate level are Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) and Queen Margaret University . Various options of study are available depending upon eligibility criteria being met.

As the primary PrBL provider for the GCU Podiatry programme, we host Level 1 to Level 4 students at the Department of Podiatry, Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QEUH) throughout Trimester A and Trimester B which acts as our placement hub. Block placements occur during Trimester A, B and C within the single service seperate from our placement hub. 

Additionally, as the need for PrBL placements for all AHP professions increase, we aim to explore new and innovative methods of offering cross-profession PrBL opportunities through both face-to-face and digital platforms.  

The Podiatry Service works collaboratively with its academic colleagues ensuring alignment to learning outcomes with quality underpinning every placement hour. 

We are keen to hear the voice of the student and their experience at the end of each placement. Using a student-based audit enables an understanding of what worked and what didn’t to inform changes to the PrBL programme. 

Return to Practice

The Podiatry service offers an excellent opportunity for podiatrists who wish to return to podiatry practice and require to re-register with the Health and Care Professionals Council (HCPC). Our fully funded learning programme will support you in your return to practice. Candidates who successfully achieve registration will be eligible to apply for Band 5 posts within NHS Boards.

We offer a structured development opportunity to support and consolidate knowledge, skills and competence in supportive learning environments. Your individual learning and support framework will have full mentorship from our team of practice educators and practice development.

In this post you will:

• Have the opportunity to provide podiatric care in a variety of clinical environments. You will be supported by your mentor using various supervisory methods.
• Provide a high level of both palliative and corrective care as outlined in the agreed management plan.
• Liaise with or referring to other Health Care Professionals (HCPs) or Agencies as appropriate.
• Plan and organise own workload to ensure effective caseload management of a diverse range of patients

Knowledge, Experience and Qualifications

You must hold a BSc (Hons) Podiatry or Diploma in Podiatry and will be required to complete a period of supervised practice. The length of supervised practice will be detailed by the HCPC Returning to Practice Requirements. You will demonstrate the ability to work as part of a team. Evidence of prioritisation, planning and organisation of workload are essential.

Roles and Responsibilities

You will create a portfolio to showcase your learning and development.

Adapt your learning needs through reflective practice and feedback to develop professional knowledge and skills.

Read and understand the HCPC Standards of Proficiency.

We offer this opportunity on a fixed term basis and will accommodate the return to practice requirement of the applicant. There is flexibility across whole and part time working.

For initial discussion please contact Julie Braidwood on Julie.Braidwood@nhs.scot or Pamela Price on Pamela.Price@nhs.scot

The PREPARE project

What is PREPARE?

The Pre Registration Podiatry: Accessible Recruitment & Employment (PREPARE) Project is an innovative approach to growing our workforce by enabling people into the profession of Podiatry. The service employs PREPARE trainees on an annex 21 basis to undertake a BSc (Hons) in Podiatry. PREPARE Trainees receive full employee benefits as per Agenda for Change terms and conditions. 

How does PREPARE work?

The Podiatry Service has an agreement with Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) which has condensed the teaching timetable to three full days, instead of spreading it over five days. This is in line with student feedback across the institution and would benefit the student experience. There is no change to programme or module learning outcomes. PREPARE Trainees have dedicated time to engage within the academic content up to 3 days per week with the remaining 2 days being specified by service led duties. Trainees engage in service-led duties 5 days per week during non term time.  

Why is PREPARE needed?

Through widening access to those who are not able to leave full time employment to access adult learning opportunities we believe this novel approach to meeting the workforce challenges stands to safeguard frontline Podiatry services in NHSGGC for the intermediate and long term future. Investment in ‘Earn to Learn’ schemes enhance graduate capability by providing integration across service delivery which enables extensive clinical exposure, whilst undertaking graduate level study. 

Continuation of employment to a Band 5 Podiatrist is subject to successful completion of the BSc (Hons) Podiatry and Health & Care Profession Council (HCPC) registration. For the Health Board, these graduates will have extensive clinical experience, alongside a detailed knowledge of policies and procedures. The Podiatry service will employ 4 PREPARE trainees per academic year from 2023 to 2027. 

To hear from a PREPARE Trainee and their experience, please click on this link to view the video

Podiatry provide assessment, management and foot health education to individuals with conditions affecting the lower limb, enabling self-care and self management where possible. We have highlighted some of the most common problems below and created resources which you might find helpful in supporting your foot and lower limb health issue.

Self Management Resources

Please note: NHS Inform is also a helpful resource.

Making an appointment

If you feel you need to speak to a podiatrist, then the details on how to do this are outlined below. It is likely that your first contact will be by telephone so we can triage you appropriately to best support your needs. Our consultations are delivered in various ways, including telephone, video, group education as well as face to face.

Podiatry does not provide personal footcare. Please refer to the ‘Personal Footcare’ resource above.

Telephone: 0800 592 087 or 0141 347 8909

Monday to Friday 8.00am to 8.00pm and Saturday 9.00am to 1.00pm

Email

Send an email to: AHP.appointments@ggc.scot.nhs.uk

Feedback

We appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your experience of using our service, which can help us shape and improve our service.

Meal Ideas – Recipes

More Resources

• Get Started Classes
• Psychological and Wellbeing
• Diet
• Physical Activity
• Lifestyle Diary
• NHS Inform Weight Loss

At the Specialist Weight Management Service (SWMS), patients are encouraged to take a realistic approach to weight loss. We want to challenge the notion of ‘going on a diet’. Unlike some fad diets, SWMS is based on current expert opinion and research evidence. Patients are asked to explore not only what they eat, but also when they eat, why they eat and how they eat.

SWMS encourage dietary and lifestyle changes that are realistic, achievable and that can be sustained in the long-term. The focus is improvement in health, through healthy eating and realistic weight loss, rather than striving for the perfect figure or an ideal bodyweight.

Lifestyle Intervention

The 12 week programme made up of 7 fortnightly sessions. Each session lasts one hour and a half covers information and support on diet, activity, and behaviour change strategies.

A Personalised Dietary Prescription (PDP,) is calculated based on height, gender, age, weight and level of physical activity. The Eatwell Guide outlines a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet that allows for personal food choices.

The minimum target weight loss in the lifestyle intervention phase is 5 to 10 kilograms (11.5 pounds to 1.5 stone). This equates to a steady weight loss of 0.5 kilogram to 1 kilogram (1 to 2 pounds) a week. 

Dietary topics covered include:

• The Eatwell Guide and portion control
• Regular meals and planning
• Eating out and takeaways
• Practical tips and recipes
• Shopping and food labelling

Dietary Support

Dietary Apps

Self monitoring using online apps are becoming more popular. They are a quick and convenient way to assess and track dietary intake. You can download apps on your smart phone – some of which are free and very easy to use.  Some commonly used dietary apps are listed below.

Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS) Healthcare Associated Infection (HAI) Standards

The prevention and control of infection throughout healthcare is everyone’s responsibility and is a major component in the drive towards a safer NHSScotland.

These Standards are one part of the drive for a safer NHSScotland, so should be seen as complementary to HAI and patient safety work undertaken by other bodies, e.g. Scottish Patient Safety Programme (SPSP). These Standards for HAI apply to all healthcare environments in which patients are treated.

To access our various publications and reports categories, select below. 

Recommended Links

• GIRFEC Frequently Asked Questions – start here for answers to the most commonly asked questions about Getting it right for every child
• A set of leaflets explaining more about GIRFEC  for ‘named persons’ and parents
• Find out more at the main GIRFEC website from the Scottish Government
• Further GIRFEC guides and resources
• Follow Getting it right for every child on Twitter

Local Authorities across our Health Board area are partners in GIRFEC

• West Dunbartonshire
• East Dunbartonshire
• Glasgow City
• East Renfrewshire 
• Renfrewshire
• Inverclyde 

• Outbreak and Incident Management Plan
  
• Staff Screening Guidance
  
• HAI Communications Strategy – IMT Guidance
  
• Incident Management Process Framework

Please read the following information and then use the links at the bottom of the page if you are looking for further information or exercise.

Important information to read if you have any concerns about your foot/ ankle pain

Please click below to expand relevant section; these sections outline some of the main issues that we would advise you get checked by a health professional before commencing self-management exercises. These are called Red Flags and may indicate a more serious problem that requires medical assessment.

Our colleagues in the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Podiatry team have developed a range of information resources for specific foot conditions – see what resources are available.

Foot and Ankle Exercises

Please make sure you have read through the important information about foot pain before proceeding.

Here are some beginner-to-progressive exercises to help you get your foot/ankle moving better. You may need to build these exercises up gradually.

You may be uncomfortable when you start doing these exercises – make sure the level of discomfort feels acceptable to you and that it doesn’t take too long to settle once you are finished.

The exercises should get easier the more consistently you manage to practice them and this may allow you to progress to more difficult exercises.

These are self help exercises:

• Try to enjoy the exercises and work at a pace and level that feels safe.
• Please use a common sense approach when deciding which ones to try.
• The exercises listed are not designed as an alternative to professional advice.

• IPC Education Strategy 2023 and Appendix 1- Modules / Learning Opportunities
  
• IPC Communications Strategy 2024
  
• IPCAT Schedule and Process Strategy 2022
• Annual IPC Programme 2025 – 2026
• Assurance and Accountability Framework

IPCAT (IPC Audit Tool) User Guides:

• SICPs Tool – Acute/MH
• QA Tool – Acute
• QA Tool – MHP
• Updated SICPs Clinical Area Summary Document (Oct 22)
• Decontamination Audit Tool