Foot health practitioner
Encyclopedia
A Foot Health Practitioner (FHP) is a provider of routine foot care working in the private sector. The title is most used in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. FHPs undertake training to recognise, assess and treat foot conditions.
Training is usually 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.
Foot Health Practitioners are not to be confused with podiatrists, who are subject to regulation
in the United Kingdom by the Health Professions Council
. HPC regulation is considered necessary where there is a perceived threat to the public. At present the HPC has no plans to regulate Foot Health Practitioners.
, which may include but is not limited to nail
trimming & correction, skin
conditions, heel
pain, corn
s, callus
, verrucae, blister
s, athletes foot, management of ingrowing toenails (without invasive surgery), diabetic foot assessment and monitoring, treatment of fungal infections, and general advice and guidance on foot care and footwear
. The existence of Foot Health Practitioners and much of their scope of practice is acknowledged by the Department of Health in the UK.
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.
Training is usually 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
Biomechanics
Biomechanics is the application of mechanical principles to biological systems, such as humans, animals, plants, organs, and cells. Perhaps one of the best definitions was provided by Herbert Hatze in 1974: "Biomechanics is the study of the structure and function of biological systems by means of...
and cryotherapy
Cryotherapy
Cryotherapy is the local or general use of low temperatures in medical therapy or the removal of heat from a body part. The term "cryotherapy" comes from the Greek cryo meaning cold and the word therapy meaning cure...
. 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.
Foot Health Practitioners are not to be confused with podiatrists, who are subject to regulation
Healthcare provider requisites
Healthcare provider requisites refer to the regulations used by countries to control the quality of individual healthcare workers practicing in their jurisdictions and to control the size of the health labour market...
in the United Kingdom by the Health Professions Council
Health Professions Council
The Health Professions Council is a statutory regulator of 210,000 health professionals from 15 professions in the United Kingdom. It was set up in 2003 under the National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002, to replace the Council for Professions Supplementary to Medicine ....
. HPC regulation is considered necessary where there is a perceived threat to the public. At present the HPC has no plans to regulate Foot Health Practitioners.
Type of work
The Foot Health Practitioner undertakes the routine work necessary to maintain the health of the footFoot
The foot is an anatomical structure found in many vertebrates. It is the terminal portion of a limb which bears weight and allows locomotion. In many animals with feet, the foot is a separate organ at the terminal part of the leg made up of one or more segments or bones, generally including claws...
, which may include but is not limited to nail
Nail
Nail may refer to:* Nail , toughened keratin at the end of an animal digit* Nail , a plate of hard horny tissue at the tip of some bird beaks* Nail , the pin-shaped fastener used in engineering, woodworking and construction...
trimming & correction, skin
Skin
-Dermis:The dermis is the layer of skin beneath the epidermis that consists of connective tissue and cushions the body from stress and strain. The dermis is tightly connected to the epidermis by a basement membrane. It also harbors many Mechanoreceptors that provide the sense of touch and heat...
conditions, heel
Heel
In human anatomy, the heel is the prominence at the posterior end of the foot. It is based on the projection of one bone, the calcaneus or heel bone, behind the articulation of the bones of the lower leg.- Human anatomy :...
pain, corn
Corn
Corn is the name used in the United States, Canada, and Australia for the grain maize.In much of the English-speaking world, the term "corn" is a generic term for cereal crops, such as* Barley* Oats* Wheat* Rye- Places :...
s, callus
Callus
A callus is an especially toughened area of skin which has become relatively thick and hard in response to repeated friction, pressure, or other irritation. Rubbing that is too frequent or forceful will cause blisters rather than allow calluses to form. Since repeated contact is required, calluses...
, verrucae, blister
Blister
A blister is a small pocket of fluid within the upper layers of the skin, typically caused by forceful rubbing , burning, freezing, chemical exposure or infection. Most blisters are filled with a clear fluid called serum or plasma...
s, athletes foot, management of ingrowing toenails (without invasive surgery), diabetic foot assessment and monitoring, treatment of fungal infections, and general advice and guidance on foot care and footwear
Footwear
Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet, for fashion, protection against the environment, and adornment. Being barefoot is commonly associated with poverty, but some cultures chose not to wear footwear at least in some situations....
. The existence of Foot Health Practitioners and much of their scope of practice is acknowledged by the Department of Health in the UK.
FHPs in the United Kingdom
Many privately trained chiropodists chose to reject the now-reserved title Chiropodist/Podiatrist in order to continue in autonomous independent private practice, and 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 currently 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.
See also
- Health care providerHealth care providerA health care provider is an individual or an institution that provides preventive, curative, promotional or rehabilitative health care services in a systematic way to individuals, families or communities....
s - PodiatristPodiatryPodiatry is a branch of medicine devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. The term podiatry came into use first in the early 20th century United States, where it now denotes a Doctor of Podiatric Medicine , a specialist who is qualified by their...
- PedorthistPedorthistPedorthist is the title of a health care professional who specializes in the use of footwear and supportive devices to address conditions which affect the feet and lower limbs. They are trained in the assessment of lower limb anatomy and biomechanics, and the appropriate use of corrective footware...
in Canada and the US