Following a competitive bidding process, Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in Scarborough and Ryedale and the Vale of York have awarded the contract for Community Podiatry Services for North Yorkshire to Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust.
The contract, jointly commissioned by Scarborough and Ryedale and Vale of York CCGs begins on the 1 May 2017.
The Trust’s highly skilled podiatrists, trained in the prevention and diagnosis of lower limb issues, will provide assessment, advice and treatment for patients across 38 community sites in North Yorkshire. This includes general core podiatry, nail surgery, management of high risk feet and muscular or skeletal imbalances and injuries.
The 90 strong Podiatry Service team at the Trust intends to strengthen ties with partner organisations, such as Diabetes UK, to ensure health promotion and education is a key part of their work.
Dr Andrew Phillips, a local GP and Medical Director at NHS Vale of York CCG said: “Podiatrists, also known as chiropodists, are health care professionals who help to prevent, diagnose, treat and rehabilitate abnormal conditions of the feet and lower limbs.
“They have a very important role in our local health care system keeping people mobile and active, relieving their pain and treating infections.
“I am delighted that Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s bid has been successful and that they can continue to deliver a high quality, community based podiatry service in North Yorkshire.”
Robin Hull, Head of Podiatry at Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This is an exciting opportunity for us to continue to deliver a high quality podiatry service in North Yorkshire.
“We have significant experience of delivering this service already and we look forward to developing the service, in particular for those patients with complex or limb threatening conditions. We will be working with commissioners to develop the access criteria to ensure that those patients with the highest need receive appropriate treatment in a timely manner.”
Find out more about Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust’s Podiatry services here.