Fife podiatrists step in to help NHS colleagues

The team 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.

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

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.”

Lynn Barker, Fife Health & 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. “

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