Podiatrists to help nurses during coronavirus outbreak

They are providing treatment for more than 100 patients in the community who are house bound.

9th Apr 2020

Podiatrists have stepped in quickly to treat patients who would normally be cared for by district nurses.

The workers, from Fife health and social care partnership, are providing treatment for more than 100 patients in the community who are house bound and require dressings for wounds.

The service has put all non-critical podiatry care on hold so that podiatrists can use their expertise to treat patients and enable nursing colleagues to provide other critical care.

Lynn Barker, Fife’s health and social care partnership’s associate director of nursing said: “I’m immensely proud of the collaboration between the podiatry and community nursing services.

“They are an outstanding example of the positive way staff across the health and social care partnership are responding during this challenging time.

“The action taken by podiatry staff who have willingly taken on this new challenge to support patients, can’t be praised highly enough.

‘It’s wonderful to see everyone pulling together in these difficult times.’
Lynn Barker

Allison Somerville, community diabetes podiatrist said: “I’m glad we’re able to use our expertise to contribute to the care of this most vulnerable patient group and to support our community nursing colleagues.

“As a service we’re continuing to provide urgent treatments for our most high-risk patients and we’re aware that we might be the only contact many vulnerable people have at this time.”