Who are Podiatrists?
Podiatrists assess, diagnose and treat conditions affecting your feet and legs.
How can a Podiatrist help me?
A podiatrist will help you to care for your feet by completing assessments that check your circulation, nerve function and overall health of the structures in your feet.
The assessment may also include a review of your footwear and the way you walk.
The treatment given by podiatrists ranges from assistance with wound care, the prescription of orthoses (insoles) and the provision of some medication or steroid injections.
What will my appointment involve?
At your appointment a full examination of your feet (and legs where appropriate) will take place, according to your symptoms.
The assessment information is used to give a diagnosis and treatment plan whenever possible. The plan is often discussed with other members of the rheumatology team, so that it takes into account the many aspects of your health.
Who are the podiatrists in the department?
Lindsey Cherry, BSc, PhD: Lindsey is an NIHR clinical lecturer in podiatric rheumatology with Solent NHS Trust and a research & lecturer at the University of Southampton.
More information about Dr Cherry and her research can be found here http://
Rachel Ferguson, BSc: Rachel is a Specialist Podiatrist with Solent NHS Trust and is currently completing a Masters in Research at the University of Southampton.
Useful links and support:
Osteoporosis and bone health services
The rheumatology bone health and osteoporosis services focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis.
Osteoporosis is a skeletal disease in which bones become fragile and more likely to break. There are no outward symptoms until a fracture occurs.
The department works closely with the DXA Unit (bone density testing).
Dr Young Min - Consultant rheumatologist
Dr M Edwards – Consultants rheumatologist
Sr Amanda Finnegan - Clinical nurse specialist
Fracture liaison service
Our fracture liaison referral service identifies patients aged 50 and older at risk of osteoporosis from their first fracture.
Our team of fracture liaison nurses offer a specialist advice:
- bone health treatments
- fall prevention
- risk tests and investigations
- medication and treatment plans
- lifestyle advice
If appropriate patients can be referred to physiotherapy.
The service is led by consultant rheumatologist Dr Steven Young Min and Dr Mark Edwards.
Useful links and support:
Information and support from specialist nurses - for questions about osteoporosis and bone health. Email nurses
Meetings are held at Cosham Baptist Church, Havant Road. Admission £2 to include refreshments. Email nos.
Our rheumatology department work with our colleagues from Solent NHS who provide hydrotherapy physiotherapy services.
The physiotherapy team will assess patients before any treatment interventions, of which hydrotherapy may be one treatment.
Referral for hydrotherapy can be made by the rheumatology consultants, their medical team and the clinical nurse specialists.
Services may include:
- exercise prescription – on land or in the hydrotherapy pool
- “hands on treatment” – mobilisations and electrotherapy
- pacing advice – how to manage your day to day life and activities to the maximum
- pain control advice – the use of heat / ice, TENS machines etc
- prescription of aids and devices – walking aids, splints etc.
- advice on local exercise and activity facilities / groups suitable for your condition.
- advice on local and national charities for your condition.
In our Day Case Suite Unit we administer infusion treatments to patients with all types of Arthritis and Connective Tissue Diseases. We also treat patients with ophthalmology eye diseases, gastroenterology and dermatology diseases.
The suite has six reclining chair care spaces and one patient trolley care space.
On arrival a nurse will explain everything to you and guide you through what is going to happen to you for your treatment day.
What to bring?
- List of your current medication
- Something to read / your iPad / small laptop We do have a few some magazines and DVD Players and discs if needed
- Fresh sample of urine - collected one to two hours before the time of your infusion
- Light snacks- tea/coffee and biscuits are served in the day case suite and snack box lunches for patients receiving all day infusions or who are diabetic attending lunch time infusions.
- Next of kin contact telephone numbers
Please have your blood tests three to five days before your day case admission is booked for.
Contact
- Day Case Bookings Team - 02392 286176
- Day Case Nursing Team - 02392 286001