Podiatry
Outpatients
Information about outpatient clinics for the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and conditions affecting the foot and lower limb. Podiatry outpatient clinics focus on patients with high-risk foot conditions and collaborate with other specialists when required.
The Department will periodically contact patients waiting for an outpatient clinic appointment via SMS, with a link to an electronic form. This is part of routine waitlist auditing to ensure patient details are up to date. If you receive this SMS, please update your details.
Availability
North
Phone: 03 6777 4145
Fax: 03 6777 5258
Launceston
- Northern Integrated Care Centre
- Kings Meadows Community Health Centre
- Ravenswood Community Health Centre
Rural sites visited every six weeks:
- Beaconsfield Community Health Centre
- George Town Hospital
- Scottsdale North East Soldier Memorial Hospital
- St Marys Hospital
- St Helens Hospital
Rural sites visited every 12 weeks:
North West
North West Regional Hospital
Phone: 03 6493 6400
Devonport Community Health Centre
Phone: 03 6478 6163
Fax: 03 6441 5946
Burnie Community Health Centre
Phone: 03 6477 7351
Fax: 03 6431 7831
Services provided at
- Devonport Community Health & Services Centre
- Burnie Community Health Centre
- North West Regional Hospital
- Mersey Community Hospital
- West Coast District Hospital
- Smithton District Hospital
- King Island Hospital & Health Centre
Emergency conditions
Patients requiring emergency care should be directed to the hospital Emergency Department.
Emergency care
If you, or someone else, are experiencing a serious and life-threatening injury or illness call triple zero (000) immediately or go to the nearest Emergency Department.
Learn more about when to access emergency care and non-emergency care options if the injury or illness is not serious or life-threatening.
Scope
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.
Referral process
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.
Where available, eReferral via HealthLink smart forms is now the preferred and only secure method of referral to the Tasmanian Department of Health.
Clinic appointments
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.
Additional information
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.