Are all Podiatrists the same?
Look for the letters S.R.Ch. M.Ch.S. or B.Sc. following your Podiatrist's name.
B.Sc. [Batchelor of Science] is a further qualification.
Only State Registered chiropodists/podiatrists may work within the N.H.S. and have undertaken and passed a 3/4 year degree level course at a recognised university.
Only after this full time university study could they obtain State Registration and membership of the Society Of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and operate within strict guide lines.
[Any other qualification has probably been undertaken by correspondence or part time attendance.]
Please phone or email to discuss with our practice manager if you have any queries regarding the above.
You naturally assume your dentist and doctor are qualified why not your podiatrist!
What do the letters that Podiatrists use mean?
DPodM or BSc(Podiatry) - This signifies that the Podiatrist has completed a full training course in podiatry at an approved institution. Originally this course was a diploma in podiatric medicine - DPodM but was later changed to a degree course - B.Sc.
SRCh - State Registered Chiropodist. Since July the 9th 2003 this title is defunct though is likely to be used by many Podiatrists for the time being as it may still be expected by the general public as a sign that the Podiatrist is fully qualified. The current form of registration with the state is given by the new Health Professions Council (See notes on HPC registration below)
MChS or FChS - This means that the Podiatrist is a member or fellow of The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists. A practicing member of this society is assured of having professional indemnity insurance cover.
HPC registration and why it is of limited value!
HPC registration, means registration with the Health Professions Council . This is the regulatory board for chiropody/podiatry, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and others in the Allied Health Professions. On July the 9th 2003 the HPC replaced the old Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine (CPSM). The CPSM set the standards for State Registration which for Podiatrists/Chiropodists was a minimum of 3 years full time training at an approved institution leading to a degree in podiatric medicine. Registration with the new HPC ensures the practitioner meets certain minimum standards of education though unlike the old CPSM it does not guarantee that the Podiatrist/Chiropodist holding registration has completed a degree or diploma. Prior to these changes patients seeking a private appointment were advised by the CPSM, the NHS and the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists to ensure they saw a Podiatrist who was State Registered as this was the only way to ensure he/she had completed an approved course. Registration with the new HPC, unfortunately does not guarantee this.
If not all registered Podiatrists have completed a degree, who are the others on the HPC register?
The new HPC, instead of denying the use of the titles Podiatrist and Chiropodist to all but those trained to a standard previously acceptable to the CPSM, are allowing onto the register anyone who applies for HPC registration and who meets a minimum set of requirements, through a simple process known as 'grandparenting'.
In plain English this means that anyone who has completed less than the approved 3 year course (often with as little as 2 weeks practical training) but who has been working privately as an unregistered Podiatrist for the past three years has a chance to become registered and this is without any further test of proficiency . This change should have been the subject of much debate but has gone largely unnoticed by the public and press.
How can I be sure who's who?
This has actually been made more difficult by the Health Professions Council who insist that the obvious differences in training are to be ignored and will only state that all Podiatrists meet their new "minimum standards of proficiency". The HPC have a list of currently approved courses that are without exception BSc courses. This could well lead members of the public to expect that all registered Podiatrists are degree educated which is now not the case. As there is no requirement for a Podiatrist to declare their training level it is up to the patient to inquire. Firstly ask if they are a HPC registered Podiatrist, it is a criminal offense to falsely claim they are. If they are registered you can further ask if they have a degree or 3 year diploma in podiatry (BSc or DPodM), it is a breech of the HPC regulations to falsely claim they have so by asking these questions alone you have gained a measure of assurance. If there is any show of protest at this or if they will only insist they are 'Fully Qualified' but won't be specific, make your excuses and put the phone down. No properly qualified Podiatrist would in the least mind you asking, on the contrary they would be pleased that you know the importance of thorough training.
Once again, you naturally assume your dentist and doctor are qualified why not your podiatrist!