Podiatry

• Assessment Appointments

Assessment and diagnosis, formulation of treatment plan, health education and initial treatment take place at this visit. We aim to provide short courses of treatment and discharge patients where appropriate, but prioritise those at highest risk of limb threatening foot problems. Following assessment, referral to one of our specialist clinics may follow, or a course of podiatry treatment may be provided.

• Diabetic Foot Clinics

This is a multidisciplinary team service where clinics  operate to assess and treat Patients presenting with suspected diabetic foot complications such as; diabetic foot ulceration, foot infection, charcot neuroarthropathy and tissue necrosis.  Patients are offered an appointment within one working day. Day to Day clinical triage is led by the Podiatry team with patients triaged to the most appropriate clinical care pathway.Clinics are held at South Tyneside Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital.

• Biomechanics

Biomechanics specialises in the abnormal function of the foot and leg and the symptoms associated with it.  Following assessment and diagnosis you may need specialist insoles to help reduce your symptoms and correct your foot posture or treatment through exercise and footwear advice.

The specialist team are also able to provide ultrasound scanner and cortico steroid injections.

The Biomechanics team can provide casted orthotics, corrective,  protective or cushioning insoles and specialist footwear for patients from other services including Diabetes, Musculoskeletal, Physiotherapy and Podiatric Surgery.

A GP, Consultant or Physiotherapist can only make referrals to the service. 

Our clinics run out of 3 sites within the Trust – Cleadon Park PCC, Sunderland Royal Hospital Appliance Dept and Pallion Primary Care Centre. Out of hours appointments may be available.

There are currently 6 Podiatrists that specialise in Biomechanics.

 

A typical appointment with us will begin with a discussion of your presenting complaint and its history.  We will then examine the joints and muscles in your legs and feet to check for any problems that may help to explain your symptoms. 

Because of this it is best to come wearing loose fitting trousers or alternatively bring shorts to change into (a changing area is provided). 

We generally examine the range of motion in the hip, knee and ankle joints along with various joints in the foot itself, although this is not always necessary for some patients.  Along with this, we may also examine your gait to assess for problems that may be occurring due to your style of walking.

Once the assessment is complete, we will discuss our findings with you and try and offer a diagnosis to explain your symptoms.  We will also put together a treatment plan to help improve your condition.

Treatment’s we offer include muscle strengthening and stretching exercises.  We may also give you exercises to improve your joint balance and coordination. 

In addition to this we often provide you with prescription insoles (called Orthotics) to alter the position and function of your foot, ankle and legs.  Orthotics, are relatively bulky; as a result of this, it is important to wear suitable shoes to accommodate them such as trainers or deep shoes, preferably with a fastener. 

If your footwear is unsuitable – we may not be able to offer you any Orthotics to treat your condition.

Other treatments we offer include referral for stock and prescription footwear.  We also offer steroid injections for certain joint and soft tissue conditions if it is deemed appropriate. 

Sometimes we may refer you on to other colleagues in the hospital such as Physiotherapy or Orthopaedics if we feel they are better placed to help you with your problem.

We generally review our patients approximately 1-2 months after their first appointment to assess improvement and alter the treatment plan if it is required.

• Nail Surgery

Nail Surgery for the removal of ingrown toe nails or extremely thick toenails carried out under local anaesthetic provided at Flagg Court, South Tyneside and Sunderland Royal Hospital.

• General Podiatry Treatment

General podiatry clinics are offered to patients with a medical/podiatric need who require tratment for foot conditions including corns and callouses and nail care.

• Domiciliary Visits

Domicilliary visits are offered to patients who are totally housebound.

• Contact opening hours:

South Tyneside: 8.45am – 4.00pm Monday – Friday (excluding Bank Holidays)

Sunderland: 8.00am – 5.00pm Monday – Friday (excluding Bank Holidays

 

• South Tyneside:

Podiatry Admin – 0191 402 8100

 

• Sunderland:

Podiatry Outpatients Booking Office – 0191 541 0101

South Tyneside Podiatry Service:

Our service is based at several clinical settings:

• Cleadon Park PCC, Prince Edward Road, South Shields. NE34 7QD
• Stanhope Parade Health Centre, Gordon Street, South Shields NE33 4JP
• Flagg Court Health Centre, Flagg court, South Shields NE33 2LS
• The Glen Health Centre, Glen Street, Hebburn  NE31 1NU

Outpatient clinic based at:
Outpatients, South Tyneside District Hospital, Harton Lane, South Shields NE34 0PL

 

Sunderland Podiatry Service:

Sunderland Royal Hospital, Outpatient clinic Podiatry Department, Entrance 8, Chester Wing, Sunderland, SR4 7TP

Our community service is available at the following locations:

Podiatry Department

Bunny Hill Primary Care Centre

Hylton Lane

Sunderland

SR5 4BW

 

Podiatry Department

Monkwearmouth Health Centre

Dundas Street

Sunderland

SR6 0AB

 

Podiatry Department

Galleries Health Centre

Washington

NE38 7NQ

 

Podiatry Department

Grindon Lane Primary Care Centre

Grindon Lane

Sunderland

SR3 4DE

 

Podiatry Department

Riverview Health Centre

Borough Road

Hendon

Sunderland

SR1 2HJ

 

Podiatry Department

Hetton Medical Centre

Francis Way

Hetton le Hole

DH5 9EZ

Tel: 0191 526 3657

 

Podiatry Department

Ryhope Health Centre

Ryhope

Sunderland

SR2 0RX

 

Podiatry Department

Silksworth Health Centre

Silksworth

Sunderland

SR3 2AN

 

Podiatry Department

Sunderland Royal Hospital

Kayll Road

Sunderland

SR4 7TP

 

Podiatry Department

Victoria Road Health Centre

Victoria Road

Washington

NE37 2PU

 

Houghton Primary Care Centre,

Brinkburn Crecent,

Houghton

DH4 5HB

 

 

Podiatry Department

Houghton Health Centre

Church Street

Houghton le Spring

DH4 4DN

Tel: 0191 584 4566

 

Clinical Director- Mary Spearman

Directorate Manager- Karen Green

 

South Tyneside:

Associate Directorate Manager- Judith McNaught 

Podiatry Clinical Lead – Michael Corfield

 

Sunderland Royal Hospital:

Podiatry Services Manager – Mary Spearman

Deputy Podiatry Manager – Alison Hobkirk