We're still open because the Government considers us an essential health service. I'm sure that some people will be surprised that we fit into this category. Don't you just cut toenails? There is a lot more to podiatry than most people know.
Why is podiatry an essential health service?
Podiatrists spend at least four years studying the anatomy, physiology and biomechanics of the lower limbs and feet. We also learn about the whole body and the common chronic conditions because things that happen upstream can affect the lower legs and feet—for example, diabetes, arthritis and vascular disease. We play a role in identifying when chronic conditions are affecting the feet and help people to avoid developing severe health complications.
Ingrown toenails are painful. For a person with diabetes, pain is just the beginning. As the toenail grows into the skin, it can cause tissue damage and create a portal of entry for bacteria. This could quite easily lead to the development of a bacterial infection called cellulitis, which can spread up the leg if not treated with antibiotics. People often end up in a hospital and require intravenous antibiotic therapy. The area of tissue damage can develop into an ulcer, which can be slow to heal and require regular treatment in a hospital setting to prevent bone infection and amputation. In Australia, there are 10,000 hospital admissions per year for diabetes-related foot ulcers. Many of these end with people having a limb, or part of a limb, amputated. You can find some more facts and figures on the Diabetes Australia website.
I can assure you that I'm not into fearmongering. This is a scenario that we encounter regularly and begs the question, can we afford to have people hospitalised with preventable problems during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic? I don't think so. We're still open because we can free up hospital beds.
Thank you to the doctors, nurses and other hospital staff that are putting their health and wellbeing at risk to help others. You're heroes!
Author: Shaun Bergin