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The Hallifax Courier are reporting: 'Elderly need good foot care'
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Age Concern's campaign to improve foot care for older people has won the backing of Calder Valley Labour MP Chris McCafferty.
"Independence and mobility are vital to older people," she said.
"That's why I will be writing to the Minister at the Department of Health highlighting the need for basic foot care services to be properly funded and freely available on the NHS."
Age Concern wants the Department of Health to include chiropody in the NHS maximum waiting time target of 18 weeks.
It is also asking primary care trusts to ensure that there is a sufficient volume of foot care services free at the point of use for all who need them.
Grab some bargains
Nearly-new toys, clothes and games will be on sale at an annual charity event.
Calderdale branch of the National Childbirth Trust is holding the nearly new sale at North Bridge Leisure Centre on Saturday from 2.30 to 4pm.
The sale gives parents of youngsters a chance to get some pre-Christmas bargain hunting under way.
It is run by volunteers and money raised goes to the charity.
Re: Age Concern wants podiatry included in targets
Thank goodness for that. The voice of reason at last
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Age Concern wants the Department of Health to include chiropody in the NHS maximum waiting time target of 18 weeks.
Thats what we need. More targets. They help.
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It is also asking primary care trusts to ensure that there is a sufficient volume of foot care services free at the point of use for all who need them.
Like the trusts don't know that they DON'T have sufficient volume.
Funny thing about managers. They seem to develop a divinity complex.
"4and lo the secretary of health spake saying "let none wait more than 18 weeks for that is an abomination in my sight 5 and lo it was so6 and light shone upon the faces of the workers and they were sore amazed. 7 and spake amoungst themselves saying "great is the wisdom of the secretary of health for he has shortened waits". And there was much rejoicing.
8But darkness was upon the faces of those who dealt in feet9 and great was their ire10 and one among them spake saying "it is a crock of S**t and it stinketh."11 but the secretary turned his face away and heard him not 12 and Cheif execs taunted the workers in feet saying 13 "thou shalt prioritise and work smarter not harder so that the secretary may shine his light upon us 14 which, issueing forth from his a*se is great in our sight" 15 and lo there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Our director has told us that our waits must be less than 6 weeks.
You can say 18, you can say 6, you can call yourself sparky the rocket dog but it don't make you backside a jet engine. They'd know that if they had the brains God gave a C diff bacillus.
Re: Age Concern wants podiatry included in targets
Hi Robert
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"4and lo the secretary of health spake saying "let none wait more than 18 weeks for that is an abomination in my sight 5 and lo it was so6 and light shone upon the faces of the workers and they were sore amazed. 7 and spake amoungst themselves saying "great is the wisdom of the secretary of health for he has shortened waits". And there was much rejoicing.
8But darkness was upon the faces of those who dealt in feet9 and great was their ire10 and one among them spake saying "it is a crock of S**t and it stinketh."11 but the secretary turned his face away and heard him not 12 and Cheif execs taunted the workers in feet saying 13 "thou shalt prioritise and work smarter not harder so that the secretary may shine his light upon us 14 which, issueing forth from his a*se is great in our sight" 15 and lo there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth.
Re: Age Concern wants podiatry included in targets
While you all laugh and joke about the NHS, no one is picking up on the encroachment of Age Concern into Podiatry.
We all know 18 weeks is a joke. If you have an IGTN 2 days is excessive, if you have a broken down HD over a prominent 2nd PIPJ 2 days is excessive. If you are a newly diagnosed obese diabetic, so what it is your fault. Anyway your practice nurse can do the diabetic foot check cannot they?
But Mr McCafferty has got it wrong. Age Concern are NOT proposing foot care services free at the point of use and who defines need.
Age Concern are proposing a business, in which in exchange for Government money and in collusion with the NHS they will provide a unregulated unsupervised non professional 'low cost' alternative to HPC regulated private provision.
Re: Age Concern wants podiatry included in targets
Hey Bob / Cassandra
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While you all laugh and joke about the NHS, no one is picking up on the encroachment of Age Concern into Podiatry.
Your concern is noted. Again.
From a point of pedantry somebody with a broken down HD or a diabetic with an infected OC does'nt have to wait 18 weeks. More like 18 hours. There is provision for rapid access for these patients (at least there is in my patch).
The whole Encroachment of age concern thing is a valid concern but lets not turn it into something it is not. They are not proposing to take ulcerating diabetics, or even patients with corns away from us. Our local AC service even refers OX nails and anything slightly O/C'y back to us. They are not allowed to treat any DM or HR patients.
The article is calling for more podiatry provision in the NHS not devolution of services to AC nurses. Thats a whole other thing.
I am confident that i have asuaged your concern and that we can now let this issue drop.
Re: Age Concern wants podiatry included in targets
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The article is calling for more podiatry provision in the NHS not devolution of services to AC nurses. Thats a whole other thing.
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Care to expand Robert?
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Age Concern wants the Department of Health to include chiropody in the NHS maximum waiting time target of 18 weeks.
It is also asking primary care trusts to ensure that there is a sufficient volume of foot care services free at the point of use for all who need them.
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Just to be a little pedantic, there is no such thing as an Age Concern Nurse in relation to foot care. They are Age Concern volunteers.
Fair enough. In my part of the world they call themselves footcare nurses. But if volunteers is the correct term...
Re: Age Concern wants podiatry included in targets
Hi All
Robert
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They are not allowed to treat any DM or HR patients
Do you know if there is any basic screening done to detect these conditions ??
I know we are in a similar debate in another place but I thought it a valid point to bring up here.
I screen for diabetes routinely and around 4 /5 a month go for followup bloods and referral to specialist pods in the diabetic clinics if required.
If, as I believe we all should be are practicing "preventative podiatry" and early detection should these "volunteers be the ones that are in the front line ??
Bob
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Age Concern are proposing a business, in which in exchange for Government money and in collusion with the NHS they will provide a unregulated unsupervised non professional 'low cost' alternative to HPC regulated private provision.
Agreed BUT ,the main reason this has happened is because Pods working in the NHS DON'T WANT TO DO THIS TYPE OF PATIENT :(
It is they that continually carp on about how these Pt's waste their time etc etc etc . You only have to look at this and other forums to see it time and time again.
Now if as a pod at the sharp end are going to tell managers at the blunt end how to save money you can hardly complain when it happens
Re: Age Concern wants podiatry included in targets
Age Concern have put out a new press release on this topic: Older people let down by NHS primary care services (03.10.08)
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NHS primary health care services are still letting older people down, even though they are the main adult users of the NHS, according to a new report out by Age Concern.
Many primary care health services like chiropody and basic foot care have been drastically cut over the years by Primary Care Trusts across the country as a way of slashing budgets to save money.
The report ‘Primary Concerns’ highlights the fact that older people use GP practice services more than younger adults; however nearly one in five 65-74 year olds are still experiencing difficulties in getting an appointment to see their GP or practice nurse.
Research from the charity also shows that almost half of older people are not registered with an NHS dentist1, despite a pledge from the Government almost ten years ago promising that everyone would have easy access to an NHS dentist within two years.
With a shortage in NHS dentists, pensioners on low fixed incomes are often forced to either pay privately for dental treatment or just go without. Good oral health is essential to the overall health and well-being of older people and enables people to eat comfortably, enjoy a healthy diet, and speak and socialise without embarrassment.
Private foot care is simply not an option for most pensioners as a private chiropodist can cost up to £30 per session – nearly a third of the weekly basic state pension. This is a huge cause for concern, as one in three adults over 65 – that’s two million people in England - cannot cut their own toenails2.
One year on from the launch of the charity’s Feet for Purpose campaign, the Department of Health is set to launch its preventative health care package for older people which has pledged to improve access to essential foot care services.
Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern, said:
“Health care should be free at the point of use. It is unacceptable that older people’s health needs aren’t properly prioritised within the NHS, despite the fact that they are the biggest adult service users.
“As we age, we are more likely to need the support of NHS primary care services. If the Government is to achieve the aim set out in the NHS review to ensure high quality care is part of everyone’s experience, then it urgently needs to address the deep rooted age discrimination that lies at the heart of the NHS.
“If older people are to get a fair deal, the new NHS Constitution now going through consultation, needs to ensure age discrimination is given as much priority as other forms of discrimination."
Re: Age Concern wants podiatry included in targets
Hi All
Age concern playing with figures again .....
Average pensioner gets around £250 per week ( inc allowances)
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Private foot care is simply not an option for most pensioners as a private chiropodist can cost up to £30 per session – nearly a third of the weekly basic state pension
£30 :- 8 = £3.75 per week @ 8 weekly intervals.
£30 :- 12 = £2.50 per week @ 12 weekly intervals
And that is for a professional who is governed by the HPC ( with all the increased costs that incures) to manage these peoples feet and to keep them as safe as possible so their feet last them as long as they need them
Sorry cant have that from age concern ask the hairdresser, aromatherapist ,reflexologist , massage thingy ( whichever flavour) , nail studio , etc and we will follow.
Ask the government to give a tax break or allowance for treating them ?
BUT
NO
age concerns answer is to put ??????????? qualified people in to "dooo feet"
Righto
You made the bed now lie on it !! and I will pick up ( as I do now) all those that are in pain , mistreated , abused and frankly being given a tenth rate service by some your organisations foot carers ( and have the paperwork to prove it)
Age Concern wants podiatry included in targets
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