Staff Podiatrist

To provide highest clinical standards of clinical care prior and throughout the pathway of foot surgery within a highly specialised multi-disciplinary team across both community and secondary care settings under the supervision and delegation of the Lead Consultant and Specialty Registrar. To contribute to policy and service development of the Podiatric Surgery Service. To ensure the service meets or exceeds the requirements, evidence and guidance. It will also be necessary to influence the future development of national policy for podiatric surgery.

The tean has a culture of continuous improvement, reflective practice and the post holder will be responsible for embedding this culture within the Podiatric Surgery Service To participate in the podiatric assessment, diagnosis, planning, implementation, delivery and evaluation of conservative podiatric interventions. Administering guided injection therapies. To participate in the assessment of patients prior to foot surgery, inclusive of full medical and social history with a particular emphasis on risk factors pertaining to foot surgery. Requesting diagnostic tests such as bloods and diagnostic imaging.

Undertaking cardio-vascular and lower limb vascular assessment, using Doppler, ABPI, TBPI Undertaking vascular and neurological assessment. To undertake patient care during surgery, this includes: Lead on collection and administration of audit including PASCOM Administering advanced local anaesthetic injections including digital, ankle and popliteal regional blocks. Prescribing/Issuing appropriate peri-op medicines to optimise patients pre/intra/post surgery Preparing patients for theatre with the nursing team Where appropriate and opportunity allows to act as assistant in theatre. Applying/removing appropriate Air cast, VACO cast and plaster cast Co-ordinating the discharge process from surgical units To undertake post-operative patient care Monitor post-operative progress.

Wound management including debridement, washouts, re-suturing/gluing redressing Cast, suture and wire removal. Advice regarding physical therapy techniques, scar and swelling management, and, overall rehabilitation. Monitoring for signs of post-operative complications including infection, deep vein thrombosis and complex regional pain syndrome and co-ordinating onward referral to acute services. Effecting the eventual discharge of the patient from the service with appropriate follow-on advice and realistic expectations.

To take charge of all patient literature, PASCOM and stock control ordering for the service.