Toeing the line on foot care
16/04/2008
Apparently more than one in three MPs would not want a friend or neighbour to cut their toenails, yet as many as one in three adults over 65 - that's two million people in England - cannot cut their own toenails and often have to resort to such desperate measures.
Fortunately (maybe out of future self-interest ...?) seven out of ten MPs strongly believe that the NHS should provide free toenail cutting and other foot care services for all older people who need it. Yet in a separate survey, nearly half of MPs surveyed still haven't taken any direct action, such as seeking the views of their constituents and raising them with ministers to help resolve the problem.
It is increasingly difficult for older people to get foot care treatment on the NHS, as more and more basic foot care services are being withdrawn or restricted due to budget cuts. However, until foot care is included in the NHS 18 week referral time, older people will continue to be forced to pay for private chiropody, wait on long waiting lists, or simply do without.
It is important to remember that private foot care is simply not an option for most pensioners as it can cost up to £30 per session - over a third of the weekly basic state pension. Six months on from the launch of Age Concern's Feet for Purpose campaign, the Government and Primary Care Trust commissioners still haven't shown any commitment to addressing this growing problem.
Gordon Lishman, Director General of Age Concern England said: "Up until now, the Government has clearly shown little consideration for a key service that would help millions of older people to stay on their feet. These foot care services are far removed from glamorous pampering sessions at the spa - they are a necessity.
"We are calling for the Department of Health and PCTs across the country to consult older people and assess their foot care needs. They must ensure foot care services are accessible and available for free to all older people who need them. All too often, the most vulnerable and poorest of older people suffer in silence; day by day losing their dignity and lust for life. The Government needs to look beyond its short sighted approach to heath care and look into longer-term preventative services like foot care."
To find out more about the Feet for Purpose campaign call the free phone information line on 0800 00 99 66. To find out whether your local Age Concern runs a foot care clinic please call 020 8 679 1609.