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Podiatry

For Patients and Visitors

What is the Service?

A podiatrist is an allied health professional who deals with problems at the foot and ankle areas. Podiatrists at Northern Health work within a variety of services to improve foot conditions using evidence-based practise.Patients are seen in the clinic for podiatry care but in certain circumstances home based services may be available. Patient’s may invite a family member or carer to be present to help ask or answer any questions. Podiatrist will communicate with the patient’s referrer/General practitioner regarding their individual care needs. If required Northern Health patients have access to the provision of our Interpreter Service.

What do I bring/need for my appointment?

  • Current footwear
  • Medicare card
  • Glasses/Hearing aids
  • An up-to-date list of medications
  • Relevant blood test results/Imaging results (X-Ray/MRI)
  • The name and clinic address of your GP

For enquiries please contact us:

  • Northern Hospital, Epping Podiatry Inpatient Office
  • Northern Hospital, Epping Foot Procedure Unit
  • Craigieburn Podiatry Office
  • Broadmeadows Hospital Podiatry Office
  • Bundoora Centre Podiatry Office

To enquire about your referral:

All referrals are triaged by a central intake team called Community Access.

For Health Professionals

Service Overview

The Podiatry team operates across four sites. The Northern Hospital Epping, Broadmeadows Hospital, Bundoora Centre and Craigieburn Centre.
The Podiatry department at Northern Health has a role within the acute, sub-acute and ambulatory clinical settings. It encompasses all aspects of podiatric care, working within numerous multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary services. The Podiatry department employs evidence based practice to empower individuals to achieve their goals concerning mobility, function and independence. All Podiatrists are supported by a strong supervision framework facilitated by the senior staff within the department.

Department Structure

The Podiatry Department is led by the Associate Director of Podiatry and Orthotics with support from the Foot Procedure Unit Clinical Coordinator and Senior podiatry team. The clinical podiatry team consists of 16.5 EFT including a mix of Grade 4, Grade 3, Advanced Practicing Podiatrist- Musculoskeletal, Grade 2 and Grade 1 Podiatrists.

Services and programs

The Northern Hospital, Epping provides Podiatry services 6 days per week in the following key clinical areas:

  • Medical and Surgical Inpatients
  • Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM)
  • Emergency Department
  • Foot Procedure Unit
  • Total Contact Casting (TCC) Clinic
  • Orthopaedics Screening & Assessment Clinic
  • Renal Service

Bundoora Centre provides Podiatry services in the following key clinical areas:

  • Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Inpatients
  • Transition Care Program (TCP) – bed based (St Vincent’s Care Services – Eltham, Regis – Fawkner)
  • Community Therapy Services (centre and home-based services)
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme
  • Commonwealth Home Support Package
  • Chronic Wound Service
  • Falls and Balance Service
  • Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP) Diabetes Service
  • Inpatients (Kilmore hospital)

Broadmeadows Hospital provides Podiatry services in the following key clinical areas:

  • Rehabilitation Inpatients
  • Medical and surgical Inpatients
  • Geriatric Evaluation and Management (GEM) Inpatients
  • Foot Procedure Unit
  • Community Therapy Services (centre-based service)
  • Musculoskeletal clinic
  • Chronic Wound Service
  • Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP) Diabetes Service
  • National Disability Insurance Scheme
  • Commonwealth Home Support Package
  • Renal Service

Craigieburn Centre provides Podiatry services in the following key clinical areas:

  • Foot Procedure Unit
  • Community Therapy Services (centre-based services)
  • Chronic Wound Service
  • Paediatric Service
  • Renal Service

Inclusion criteria:

Adult services:

  • Active cellulitis/infection/wound ulceration to the areas of the foot and ankle, or a diagnosis or high suspicion of Active Charcot’s Neuroarthropathy or issues with Non-active Charcot’s neuroarthropathy will be referred to The Northern Health Foot Procedure Unit.
  • Pathological in-growing toenail, involuted or thickened nail causing pain, with or without an infection
  • Musculoskeletal condition affecting the foot and causing foot pain. For example, heel pain, plantar fasciitis, plantar plate tear.
  • Dermatological condition affecting the foot and causing foot pain. For example, painful corns and callus, interdigital corn.
  • CHSP referrals will be centre-based MAC referrals that reside within the catchment area and specifically state to be seen by NH podiatry services.
  • Home-based therapy is offered in the Bundoora catchment area for patients with an active foot ulcer that are unable to leave their home for any appointment.
  • NDIS podiatry and HACC PYP podiatry for the treatment of chronic foot ulcers or with foot ulcers in remission.

Paediatric service:

  • Children aged between 0-18 years with developmental delay and/or foot pain or pathology

Exclusion criteria:

Adult services:

  • Leg ulcer (above ankle)
  • Ongoing nail and skin care
  • Medicare care plan referrals
  • Home-based therapy for clients outside of the catchment area who are able to attend appointments or are referred for ongoing nail care
  • Nail care for onychomycosis/fungal nail infection

Paediatric service:

  • People aged over 18 years

How to Refer:

Internal Referrals:

Refer via CPF referral form.

External Referrals:

Please fax all referrals to 8405 8616.

If you have any inquiries, please contact Community Access via 1300 128 539 or email Community.Access.Helpdesk@nh.org.au.

Processing will commence within 3 working days of receipt of the referral. Processing involves checking eligibility, ensuring the referral contains all required information, and determining the priority status of the referral. The referrer will be contacted regarding referrals that have insufficient content.

Referral must include:

  • Patient and referrer identification, with patient consent to refer to podiatry service
  • Referral priority – ensure this accurately reflects the urgency of the appointment
  • Reason for referral – current presenting problem
  • Main problem – other appropriate information specifically related to the referral
  • Background information – any additional information including past medical history, medication history, functional status, social situation, and current community services/supports involved.

Alternative service options:

Alternative external service options include local community health providers or private podiatry practices.

Director/Head of Unit:

Stephen Tucker
Associate Director of Podiatry & Orthotics
Ph: 0438 332 749
E: Stephen.Tucker@nh.org.au

Enquiries:

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If you need an interpreter, please speak to a staff member or call us via TIS on 131 450

In the case of an emergency call 000

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