Podiatric surgeons offer comprehensive surgical care for a wide variety of problems, including:
Who is responsible for my care? Your treatment / surgery will be undertaken / supervised by a podiatric surgeon who is a Fellow of the Faculty of Surgery (College of Podiatry). Podiatric surgeons are not registered medical practitioners (medical doctors), but are non-medical specialists in the surgical and non-surgical management of problems of the foot and associated structures.
Titles: The podiatric surgery team may consist of several different professionals all dedicated to the success of your surgery and for your assistance the common titles are explained below.
Podiatrist: A podiatrist has studied for three years to obtain a degree in podiatric medicine and will be registered with the Health Professions Council. Podiatrists are independent clinicians, qualified to diagnose and treat foot problems. Podiatrists may specialise in particular areas of work e.g. the care of the diabetic patient or sports medicine.
Podiatric Surgeon: A podiatric surgeon is a podiatrist that has gone on to further specialist training in podiatric surgery. Podiatrists and Podiatric Surgeons are not registered with the GMC as they are not medically qualified. Podiatrists and Podiatric Surgeons are registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). You can check your professional is registered with the HCPC.
Consultant Podiatric Surgeon: After some years of practice within a Health Service Department of Podiatric Surgery, a podiatric surgeon may be appointed as a consultant i.e. the lead clinician appointed by an NHS Trust to provide a podiatric surgery service.
Specialist Registrar in Podiatric Surgery: Is a podiatric surgeon who has gained their Fellowship in Podiatric Surgery (qualification in the practice of podiatric surgery) and is working towards the certificate of completion of podiatric specialist training.
Trainee in Podiatric Surgery: Is a podiatrist who has completed an MSc in the theory of podiatric surgery and is registered with a formal surgical training programme under the supervision of a surgical Tutor and a Higher Educational Institution.
Are Podiatric Surgeons the same as Orthopaedic Surgeons? It is important to note that podiatric surgeons are not the same as Orthopaedic Surgeons as they have trained exclusively in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of the foot. Orthopaedic surgeons complete a medicine degree before going on to further training in the management of bone and joint conditions which affect the whole body and some go on to have specialist training in the foot and ankle. Podiatric Surgeons and Orthopaedic Surgeons do carry out similar foot operations, and in some instances, work as part of the same team.
- bunions (hallux valgus)
- problems with the toes (e.g. hammer toes)
- nerve entrapments of the foot and ankle
- arthritis in the foot and ankle
- Skin disorders
- soft tissue or tendon disorders
- sports injuries
- fractures in the foot and ankle
- foot problems in people with diabetes
- birth deformities and other foot problems in children
- heel pain
- high-arched and flat feet
Who is responsible for my care? Your treatment / surgery will be undertaken / supervised by a podiatric surgeon who is a Fellow of the Faculty of Surgery (College of Podiatry). Podiatric surgeons are not registered medical practitioners (medical doctors), but are non-medical specialists in the surgical and non-surgical management of problems of the foot and associated structures.
Titles: The podiatric surgery team may consist of several different professionals all dedicated to the success of your surgery and for your assistance the common titles are explained below.
Podiatrist: A podiatrist has studied for three years to obtain a degree in podiatric medicine and will be registered with the Health Professions Council. Podiatrists are independent clinicians, qualified to diagnose and treat foot problems. Podiatrists may specialise in particular areas of work e.g. the care of the diabetic patient or sports medicine.
Podiatric Surgeon: A podiatric surgeon is a podiatrist that has gone on to further specialist training in podiatric surgery. Podiatrists and Podiatric Surgeons are not registered with the GMC as they are not medically qualified. Podiatrists and Podiatric Surgeons are registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). You can check your professional is registered with the HCPC.
Consultant Podiatric Surgeon: After some years of practice within a Health Service Department of Podiatric Surgery, a podiatric surgeon may be appointed as a consultant i.e. the lead clinician appointed by an NHS Trust to provide a podiatric surgery service.
Specialist Registrar in Podiatric Surgery: Is a podiatric surgeon who has gained their Fellowship in Podiatric Surgery (qualification in the practice of podiatric surgery) and is working towards the certificate of completion of podiatric specialist training.
Trainee in Podiatric Surgery: Is a podiatrist who has completed an MSc in the theory of podiatric surgery and is registered with a formal surgical training programme under the supervision of a surgical Tutor and a Higher Educational Institution.
Are Podiatric Surgeons the same as Orthopaedic Surgeons? It is important to note that podiatric surgeons are not the same as Orthopaedic Surgeons as they have trained exclusively in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of the foot. Orthopaedic surgeons complete a medicine degree before going on to further training in the management of bone and joint conditions which affect the whole body and some go on to have specialist training in the foot and ankle. Podiatric Surgeons and Orthopaedic Surgeons do carry out similar foot operations, and in some instances, work as part of the same team.