Services provided:
- Care for conditions affecting the foot including:
- Children-intoeing & 'flat feet'
- Adolescents -'growing pains', ingrown toenails
- Adults - Diabetes foot care & education
- Foot & Knee pain
- Pressure lesions (corns, ulcers)
- Orthotics, insoles & walking styles
- Outreach services to Nyah West, Tooleybuc, Moulamein and Mallee District Aboriginal Service
The focus of the department is to:
Increase the knowledge & skills of individuals & communities around foot health and mobility
Encourage individuals to self manage their own foot health
Prevent lower extremity amputations (LEAP)
Provide interventions that reduce pain and prevent long term disability
What is a Podiatrist?
A Podiatrist is an allied health professional who
has special skills and knowledge in assessing, diagnosing and treating disorders of the feet & legs. Podiatrists usually study for
3-4 years. They study about the whole body, but specialize in foot and leg problems. They have special knowledge of rheumatological, vascular
and musculoskeletal problems. The Podiatrists at the hospital also have special skills in managing the feet of people with diabetes.
Can I use the Podiatry service?
All members of the Swan Hill community are able to attend the Podiatry Service for an initial consultation. At this appointment the Podiatrist
will ask you questions about your general health, and the concerns you have with your feet. After the Podiatrist has finished their assessment,
they will discuss with you options for how you can best manage your foot problems.
How Podiatry at Swan Hill District Health works:
When you contact the Podiatry Department for an appointment you will be asked to fill out a form with information about your general health
and your foot problems. The Podiatrist will then assign a priority for your problem. This priority is based on how likely your foot problem
is to result in you needing to have an amputation as a result of your foot problem. Reception staff will then contact you when an appointment
becomes available.
After the initial consultation the Podiatrist will advise you if we can provide you with on-going care. You will be given a letter that
explains what we can provide for you.
The Podiatry department sees clients with different problems on different days.
What Podiatry can not provide?
Podiatrists do not provide pedicures. The
Podiatry service at the hospital is unable to provide general nail cutting for healthy feet.
Programs, Clinics and Assessments
- Lower Extremity Amputation Prevention Program
- Wound Clinic
- Diabetes Assessments
- Children’s Clinic
- Nail Surgery Service
- Short Term Clinic
- Low Risk Foot Service
See Also:
Podiatry General Diabetes Brochure
SHDH Children's Health Services Brochure
A doctor’s referral is NOT required to use the service.
Contact:
Location: Allied Health (opposite main reception) enter from Splatt Street
Phone: 03 5033 9390
Email: allied.reception@shdh.org.au
