By law in the UK to use the title ‘Podiatrist’ or ‘Chiropodist’ a person has to be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council regulatory body. You can check the register here.
NHS Podiatry services
In the UK, accessing NHS podiatry services through self-referral is possible in many areas, but the process and eligibility criteria vary depending on your local NHS Trust or Health Board. Generally, podiatry services are designed to support people with foot and lower limb complications that are linked to underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes, circulatory disorders, or inflammatory arthritis, which place them at higher risk of complications, such as ulceration and infection.
To refer yourself, you typically need to be registered with a local GP and meet specific risk criteria, which may be different for each NHS Trust or Health Board. To refer yourself for NHS podiatry services, check your local NHS Trust or Health Board's website or contact your GP surgery for information on eligibility criteria and self-referral options. If your condition does not meet NHS criteria, you may be advised to seek care from a private podiatrist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council.
Independent Podiatry practice
If you do not meet your local NHS risk criteria or require an out-of-hours appointment, you may wish to seek care from a private podiatrist. You can locate your local private Podiatrist through our Find a Podiatrist tool. Click here.
Find a podiatrist near you.