General Practitioners

• Warts
• Arthritis
  • Palliative care, to a patient with rheumatoid arthritis who has severe pains in their feet and finds wearing shoes difficult.
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Rheumatology

Endocrinologist

• Diabetes Care

Radiologist

• X-Rays

Surgeons

• Wound Care
  Foot infections can have serious consequences especially if they are not recognized and treated in a timely manner. Infection can cause serious injury to the affected part and thus needs to be treated as early as possible. Sometimes antibiotics and wound care is all that are necessary for treatment. In more serious or advanced infections surgery may also be necessary.

Dermatologists

• Dermatology
• Corns
  Both corns and callous are a result of repetitive intermittent pressure. Friction causes the thick, hardened, dead skin of corns and calluses, which form to protect sensitive skin. Appearing cone–shaped, corns point into the skin, and usually occur on areas that bear weight. Calluses may appear anywhere there's friction, and are more diffuse. Both may be caused by ill–fitting shoes and will fade when friction stops. Initially the corn and callosity will be debrided. We will then provide you with advice as to how to prevent or minimise its reoccurrence and pain. However unless the initial cause is addressed they do have a tendency to reoccur and therefore may need ongoing routine care.
• Ulcer
  • Vascular and neurological assessment, and wound management for a patient with diabetes and/or an ulcer under their foot.
• Calluses
• Fungus

Physical Therapists

• Sports Medicine
  Working as a podiatrist can be exciting, rewarding and flexible, working independently or as part of a multidisciplinary team. Most practitioners start their professional career working in general clinics and then gradually develop specialist skills in different areas such as rheumatology, diabetes, dermatology, wound care, biomechanics or sports injuries.
• Physical Therapy
• Back Pain
• Orthotics and Prosthetic Therapy

Podiatrists

• General Podiatry
  Margaret graduated from the Northern Ireland School of Chiropody, Belfast in 1983 where she obtained a Diploma in Chiropody and subsequently graduated from Edinburgh University with a degree in Podiatric Medicine. She commenced practising within Northern Ireland Health Service where she is still employed on a part time basis in a specalist role treating mainly "High Risk" Patients.
• Achilles Tendonitis
  The repetitive high impact nature of sports places further stress on the musculoskeletal system of the lower extremity. Many sporting injuries are a result of poor biomechanics and alignment. Many recreational and professional athletes participating in football, cricket, athletics, tennis, golf, basketball and dancing commonly present with overuse injuries Common overuse injuries include Achilles tendonitis, Shin Splints and Stress Fractures and ligament strain or sprain.
• Ankle Sprain
  Gait is the way in which we move our whole body from one point to another. Most often, this is done by walking, although we may also run, skip, hop etc. Gait analysis is a method used to assess the way we walk or run to highlight biomechanical abnormalities. Gait analysis can be performed by a podiatrist and usually involves walking or running on a treadmill while the podiatrist simply observes the way that you move, looking in particular at the alignment of your feet, ankles, knees and hips in relation to each other and the rest of your body. Being able to move efficiently is important in avoiding injuries. Having joints capable of providing sufficient movement and muscles capable of producing sufficient force is vital to generate an efficient gait cycle. The more common overuse injuries associated with poor gait are Shin splints, Plantar fasciitis and recurring knee and/or ankle injuries and lower back pain.
• Calluses
• Foot Infections
  Bacteria normally live on the skin so in order for a serious bacterial foot infection to develop there needs to be a break in the skin or an ulcer or a wound in order for bacteria to get into the foot. In other words if Bacteria infect an open wound on the foot this can have more serious consequences and requires prompt treatment. Not all wounds will get infected, but the longer a wound remains non-healed the greater the chance of developing an infection. People with diabetes are more prone to developing wound infections especially those with poor blood sugar control.
• Ingrown Toenails
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Podiatric Surgery
  Onward Specialist referral is sometimes necessary if professionally recommended by the Podiatrist for medical specialist assessment /treatment. Sometimes it is necessary to refer on to Orthopaedics, Dermatology or Podiatric surgery. The Podiatrist knows when a condition is beyond their scope of practice and GP involvement is necessary to refer on to more specialist services.