Podiatry

Patients requiring emergency care should be directed to the hospital Emergency Department.

North and North West

North and North West prioritise care to people with high-risk foot problems and acute foot problems.

The Podiatry Department also provides a service for biomechanical, paediatric and dermatological lower limb conditions, including providing orthotics for clients.

All podiatry appointments are at no cost, however there is a cost incurred for orthotics and innersoles.

Enhanced primary care (EPC) referrals are not accepted by this Service. Patients that are low risk and require routine nail care are not eligible for this service.

South

Enhanced primary care (EPC) referrals are not accepted by this service.

Patients with normal nails and no podiatry or medical priority conditions are not eligible for this service.

• Biomechanics and Orthotic Clinic: For patients of all ages with lower limb and foot pathology that requires assessment of gait, footwear and/or orthotic management.
• Diabetes Assessment Clinic: For patients with diabetes requiring lower limb and foot screening assessment. Priority is given to patients classified as moderate to high risk of complications.
• Emergency Clinic: For patients with acute foot wounds, acute Charcot Neuroarthropathy or infected ingrown toenails at risk of complications and require urgent podiatry management.
• Ulcer Assessment/Ulcer Clinics: For patients with diabetes, vascular or rheumatological related foot wounds who require neurological, vascular, biomechanical, gait, orthotic and/or footwear review, as well as wound assessment and management planning. These include patients for pre and post lower limb amputation management.
• General Treatment Clinic: For patients with toenail and skin pathology who require podiatry assessment, management or advice. Prioritisation is by strict criteria. Due to high demand for this service consumers may be advised to seek additional or alternative private podiatry services and priority is given to consumers with significant foot pathology and medical need e.g. via private health insurance, EPC plans, DVA.
• High Risk Foot Clinic: This is a multi-disciplinary clinic with Endocrinology, Vascular Surgery, Infectious Diseases, Wound care nurse and Diabetes Educators input. For patients with diabetes, vascular or rhuematological related foot wounds who at risk of complications and require multidisciplinary management. Referrals for this clinic are prioritised to those requiring the input of two or more disciplines. What to expect at your High Risk Foot Clinic appointment.
• Nail Surgery Clinic: For patients with nail pathology, e.g. ingrown toenails that require podiatric nail surgery intervention
• Screening Clinic: For patients with lower limb and foot pathology who require podiatry assessment, management or advice. Prioritisation is by strict criteria.

A referral is required for all new appointments and must conform to the referral standards. eReferral is now the preferred method of referral for this service and is available in All regions. Please refer via HealthLink SmartForm eReferral through your software system (either Best Practice, or Medical Director). For instructions, see the creating an eReferral quick guide.

Specific requirements are detailed in the individual clinic and condition referral guidelines.

Referrals are registered by the clinic to which they are referred and are triaged according to the specific clinic guidelines.

For patients being referred to High Risk Foot Clinic referral needs to include: HbA1c and related wound investigations results.

North

• All complex high risk feet with a significant ulcer are seen at the Northern Integrated Care Centre.
• Once referral is received it will be prioritised according to severity and patient will be provided with an appointment in the mail. We aim to see all new patients within six weeks.

Appointments are based on clinical priority.

Urgent (Category 1)

We will try to see these patients within two weeks
Urgent referrals should be accompanied by a phone call to Podiatry to organise urgent review.

North: Urgent referrals of ulcer, infection or suspected Charcot will be offered an appointment within 48 hours.

Semi-urgent (Category 2)

We will try to see these patients within eight weeks.

Routine (Category 3)

Next available appointment.

For more information please see the Tasmanian Health Pathways website.

North and North West

Podiatrists assess and manage a range of conditions including, but not limited to:

• Foot wound care sharp debridement and dressing planning
• Neurological and vascular assessments
• Biomechanical, gait and footwear assessments
• Nail surgery
• Orthotic prescription and manufacture
• Superficial nail and skin debridement
• Pathology and medical imaging investigations

South

Podiatrists assess and manage a range of conditions including, but not limited to:

• Neurological and vascular assessments
• Biomechanical, gait and footwear assessments
• Foot and ankle wound care sharp debridement and dressing planning
• Nail surgery
• Orthotic prescription and manufacture
• Superficial nail and skin debridement
• Pathology and medical imaging investigations

Podiatry Outpatients Clinic in the Telstra Building runs in connection with a large number of community clinics throughout the south of Tasmania.

Patient information sheets

• Footcare Program
• Changing Wound Dressings
• What options do I have for healing my foot ulcer
• What to expect at your High Risk Foot Clinic appointment