Podiatry treatments policy: FOI release

Information requested

Has the Scottish Government and/or NHS Scotland ever decreed/issued a directive/recommendation to any/all of the 14 Scottish health boards to cease offering routine* podiatry treatments to patients with serious health conditions and who have been clinically assessed as being at risk if not regularly treated?

* Routine podiatry treatments such as removal of corns, bunions, calluses to prevent severe pain, stress, and potentially more serious health risks to the patient.

Response

The Scottish Government has not issued any directive or recommendation to any of the 14 Scottish Health Boards to cease offering routine podiatry treatments to patients with serious health conditions who have been clinically assessed as being at risk if not regularly treated.

The NHS Scotland Podiatry Service treats patients depending on the individual person’s healthcare needs, not according to specific medical conditions. Therefore, there are no specific serious health conditions that are clinically deemed as requiring routine podiatry care. Effective triage helps allocate resources efficiently and ensures that patients receive timely care based on their healthcare needs.

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the Scottish Government does not have some of the information you have requested. However, you may wish to contact the NHS Scotland Health Boards who may be able to help you.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.