Foot health practitioner

A Foot Health Practitioner (FHP) is a private sector provider of routine foot care. The title is most used in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. FHPs undertake training to recognise, assess and treat commonly occurring foot conditions.

Training is undertaken through distance learning, with practical training delivered in clinics dedicated to this purpose. There is now a 100 year history of training practitioners of routine private sector foot care through private colleges in England. Many FHPs go on to complete further courses in areas such as biomechanics and cryotherapy. Many Foot Health Practitioners continue their development and remain updated by pursuit of Continuing Professional Development (CPD), despite there being no statutory requirement to do so.

Type of work

The Foot Health Practitioner undertakes routine work necessary to maintain the health of the foot, which may include but is not limited to nail trimming & correction, skin conditions, heel pain, corns, callus, verrucae, blisters, athletes foot, management of ingrowing toe nails (without invasive surgery), diabetic foot assessment and monitoring, treatment of fungal infections, and general advice and guidance on foot care and footwear.

FHPs in the United Kingdom

Many privately trained chiropodists rejected registration and the now-reserved title Chiropodist/Podiatrist in order to continue in autonomous independent private practice, and have instead adopted the title 'Foot Health Practitioner'. Many others have since trained through private schools as Foot Health Practitioners. Consequently, Foot Health Practitioners are firmly established yet remain free of statutory regulation.

Appropriately trained Foot Health Practitioners can become members of the following professional bodies: the Institute of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (associate membership only - no voting rights) and the Alliance of Private Sector Practitioners (full membership for FHPs and Podiatrists) - Membership of these bodies includes practice insurance and access to Continual Professional Development.

FACT:- Foot Health Practitioners are NOT allowed to work in the NHS because they are not HPC registered.

FACT:- The Care Quality Commission, who regulate care services in England, do not allow Foot Health Practitioners to undertake any form of foot treatments on service-users because they are not HPC-registered. To quote from the Care Quality Commission website “All providers of Care Services who the Care Quality Commission regulate with us, must be registered….The Care Quality Commission deem it an offence if they are not.” In the 63 page document titled Scope of Registration, it states only Chiropodists/ Podiatrists may undertake all forms of foot treatments. That is because they are HPC registered.

FACT:- No training is necessary to work as a Foot Health Practitioner. Because the title Foot Health Practitioner is not protected (unregulated) absolutely anyone can work as a Foot Health Practitioner and call themselves Foot Health Practitioner, without any prior knowledge or training. This information can be confirmed by The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists and the HPC.

FACT: If a person does undertake training from education institutions that train Foot Health Practitioners, then it is a minimum of 10 days clinical practice. Podiatrists train for a minimum of 1000 hours of clinical practice over a 3 year university degree. The fact regarding clinical practice for Universities can be confirmed by the Education regulators of Podiatry degrees, and the HPC. The fact regarding Foot Heath Practitioners can be confirmed by the facilities that offer that training.

FACT: When the HPC decided to regulate the title Chiropodist, those people who were currently working as Chiropodists but did not meet the standards set out by the HPC, then had to call themselves Foot Health Practitioners (refer to HPC website). These days the only way you can become a Podiatrist/ Chiropodist is to undertake a Podiatry degree at university. (Refer to HPC website)

FACT: Education institutions that used to train Chiropodists by law, now train Foot Health Practitioners. A classic example is the S M A E Institute, they can no longer train Chiropodists, they now by law, can only train Foot Health Practitioners.

FACT: It is not in the HPC interest to regulate Foot Health Practitioners. Afterall, Podiatrists/ Chiropodists meet the HPC standard. The HPC also regulates Physiotherapists and Radiographers. Refer to the HPC website.

FACT: If a Foot Health Practitioner wants HPC recognition, then they need to go to University and study a Podiatry degree. Refer to the HPC website.