Question reference: S6W-06660
- Asked by: Carol Mochan, MSP for South Scotland, Scottish Labour
- Date lodged: 18 February 2022
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Current status: Answered by Humza Yousaf on 4 March 2022
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what steps it is taking to ensure that personal footcare, specifically toenail cutting and filing services, is provided to older and at-risk people who require regular checks, and where this is not taking place, what support is being provided to such individuals.
Answer
While the Scottish Government’s role is to set the strategic policy for the NHS in Scotland, NHS Boards are responsible for delivering safe, effective, person-centred care at a local level.
The Scottish Government published the National Personal Footcare Guidance https://www.gov.scot/publications/personal-footcare-guidance/ , which sets out clearly the difference between personal footcare and clinical podiatry in NHS Scotland and offers help and support to individuals, carers and families in the provision of personal footcare, including older and at-risk people.
People with the most urgent clinical need are seen by a registered podiatrist to ensure they are prioritised for treatment, and those that require personal footcare are advised how to self-manage their footcare or are signposted to other more appropriate services. As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, those with the most essential or urgent clinical podiatry needs continue to be seen. We are working with NHS Boards to remobilise and reform services, including the development of services across Scotland to support future service sustainability and addressing the backlog of treatment.