Podiatrists from Fife’s health and social care partnership have stepped in quickly to treat patients who would normally be cared for by district nurses.
Fife Council and NHS Fife confirmed staff members are treating more than 100 patients in the community who are currently housebound and need dressings for wounds.
The podiatry service itself has put all non-critical podiatry care on hold so podiatrists can treat patients and allow nursing colleagues to provide other critical care elsewhere.
Lynn Barker, Fife’s health and social care partnership’s associate director of nursing, said: “I’m immensely proud of the collaboration between the podiatry and community nursing services.
“They are an outstanding example of the positive way staff across the health and social care partnership are responding during this challenging time.
“The action taken by podiatry staff who have willingly taken on this new challenge to support patients can’t be praised highly enough.
“It’s wonderful to see everyone pulling together in these difficult times.”
Allison Somerville, community diabetes podiatrist, added: “I’m glad we’re able to use our expertise to contribute to the care of this most vulnerable patient group and to support our community nursing colleagues.
“As a service we’re continuing to provide urgent treatments for our most high-risk patients and we’re aware that we might be the only contact many vulnerable people have at this time.”
