Gemma Crabtree is one of our community podiatrists who looks after the people of Leeds feet! She tells us what here role involves...
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| “I'm passionate about community services because we provide quality evidence based treatment and treat patients as individuals.” |
"I work as a Community Podiatrist and have been
with the trust for nine years. At present I am acting up in my role and working
as a clinical lead.
After qualifying as a podiatrist, I applied for
a job with the trust and was successful in this. Although I live in Harrogate,
I much preferred to work in Leeds.
Like with most community services, there is no
typical day. Although I am based at Kirkstall Health Centre, where I deliver a
clinic daily, my colleagues work across Leeds, providing treatment in a number
of locations that is as close to home as possible for the patient.
Each day is very busy, seeing clients for 20
minutes at a time. Within this time it is important to find out if
there have been any problems since the last appointment and see if any
further actions need to be taken i.e. referrals or requests for insoles. I will
then provide treatment if necessary and update their records.
Through the Community Podiatry Service, we
deliver core podiatry, management of high risk feet and nail surgery as well as
specialised clinics that for example, people with high risk diabetics, high
risk feet and chronic painful skin lesions would attend. We also work with
vulnerable people such as those with mental ill-health or those receiving
healthcare in prison. To meet the individual treatment needs of patients, care
is personalised and planned.
Although I provide treatment for both adults and
children, I work with children quite a lot and find this area very satisfying. The
service offers special support for children include flat foot, curly toe,
growing pain, hypermobility and toe walking. Each child tends to attend and
present different problems which makes the day more interesting when I
have to find a solution."
