_______________________

Southern Ireland venture a huge success

The Alliance mounted its first Irish Seminar at the Carlton Airport Hotel, Dublin on Saturday 19th June.

The warmth of the welcome and the goodwill expressed on the day was just amazing, and it gave us a great deal of very real pleasure to see old friends again and be introduced to so many like-minded new friends.

The four-presentation event was enthusiastically received. In the morning session 'Clinical management of the ingrowing toenail' was considered by John Falkner-Heylings BSc, and 'Paediatric non-articular osteochondroses' were explained by President Victor J Fletcher. A superb lunch was served exclusively to delegates in the Clouds Restaurant, where first-class food was enhanced by the airey panoramic view over the busy airport. Following lunch, Gareth Hicks, Podiatrist, delivered a talk on 'Assessment of the Foot in Diabetes' in which he explained the screening and the assessment decisions that inform treatment and illustrated the important points by reference to several case histories. Alliance Vice President John Falkner-Heylings then delivered the final talk of the day on 'Gerontology', examining some of the issues around ageing and our perceptions and interaction with senior people around us.

Janet Taylor, Managing Director, once again negotiated and organised a superb event in which everything fitted seamlessly together to create a really memorable occasion. Organisation only comes to the notice of delegates when things go wrong - they didn't, so you wouldn't have noticed. Thank you Janet - great work! CPD certification and reflection forms for professional portfolios were included in the delegate packs.

Mssrs Canonbury Products, C&P, DLT, and Baileys Instruments mounted excellent trade stands and delegates made full use of the opportunity to make purchases and secure the terrific bargains on offer.

The Alliance has determined that it will maintain an ongoing presence in Ireland, and will include our friends across the water in its future programme.

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THE 7th ALLIANCE ANNUAL CONVENTION 26th/27th/28th March

This year's Convention must have been the best ever! Alliance members filled two large hotels, Hinckley Island and Sketchley Grange to capacity, and regrettably we had to turn people away because both hotels had run out of rooms.

The Trade Exhibition was huge with many innovative new products on offer and the tradespeople reporting brisk business and lots of lively interest.

The programme ranged over many aspects of practice, and every speaker thoroughly enjoyed delivering their presentations to an attentive and enthusiastic audience.

Friday's programme began with an opening welcome to all delegates by Managing Director Janet Taylor. Vice President John Falkner-Heylings delivered a new presentation 'Nails - beginning to end', and this was followed by a highly entertaining and motivational talk on 'Marketing Your Business' by Alan Postlethwaite. Alan's talk was memorable for his remarkable demonstration of a memory technique that we can all use for, for instance, remembering patient's names. I think that I shall never forget....

Saturday began with Victor J Fletcher, our President's 'Welcome and Where We Are Now' address . Victor was in good form and he set the upbeat tone for the day. The Award Ceremony followed immediately, and the Alliance presented Fellowships to John Bousfield, Catherine Hadley and Philip Reed in recognition of their recent gain of their BSc degrees in Podiatric Medicine. Victor Martin received the Literary Award for his well-researched and educational Clinical Articles published in the Alliance Journal 2009-10.

Liz Blizzard, Physiotherapist, considered 'Occupational Back Pain' and how we might best avoid potential damage that pursuit of our professional duties might bring upon us. Sue Seabra, Senior Lecturer Stafford University presented 'Osteoarthritis' in her very clear and personable style. Following a good lunch Pamela Kirby, Tissue Viability Nurse Trainer at Sherwood Forest Hospital, Nottingham presented her daily work with 'The Diabetic Ulcer and the Efficacy of the Manuka Honey Dressing' in this work. Pam was 'volunteered' to deliver this presentation by Advancis Medical, Kirby-in Ashfield, to whom we are most grateful - shocking slides - even for the hard-bitten individuals amongst us. There followed a presentation by Judith Barbero-Brown, now a Teaching Fellow, University of Durham. Judith very professionally explored the effects of 'Systemic Diseases' and added considerably to our understanding of the extent of the damage these conditions wreak upon us. In an impromptu talk extra to the programme, our good friend Gareth Hicks, Podiatrist of Baileys Instruments told us of the progress made so far with the pending changes in sterilisation rules that will first affect dentists.

The day ended with the President's Reception, Dinner and Party Night. It seems that a good night was had by all, those that remember any of it, and many danced well into the night to a disco.....

Sunday saw the presentation of 'Viruses' by John Falkner-Heylings, Director of Clinical Studies at the College of Foot Health Practitioners. In her first presentation ever, Andrea Dale faced a huge Sunday audience of one hundred and eleven delegates to deliver 'Assessment of the Diabetic Patient'. Andrea is highly professional, well-established and much-respected as a practitioner and her presentation was entertaining, thought-provoking and full of character. Andrea is this years 'discovery' and we look forward in eager anticipation of her next talk.

Victor J Fletcher, President, delivered the last of the Conventions' talks on ' Osgood Schlatters, Sinding-Larsen and Johansson Disease, and Severs Disease - a trilogy of osteochondroses'. With good explanations, clear illustrations, and Victors infectious wit the similarities and differential diagnoses were laid out and treatment options examined - a fitting end to a very successful and enjoyable weekend.

Thanks to everyone who attended. We hope you enjoyed the event as much as we did and we hope to see you all next year, or before. And thanks to all who made it possible. This size of event needs the combined effort of many, many people too numerous to mention and inevitably someone would be left out if we printed a list of names. But thanks, everyone, for your contributions to a wonderful 3-day event. Janet must receive special thanks for her absolutely monumental effort in so successfully staging the Convention, as well as the day-to- day running of the Alliance. Conventions take more than a year to organise, and Janet is already working on events several years ahead.

We'll do it again next year, 15th, 16th and 17th April, 2011.

Dublin Seminar, Ireland, Saturday 19th June at the Carlton Airport Hotel -

- programme and further details from Janet Taylor, 01492 531852

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MEETING OF THE WEST MIDLANDS OCF

Report of meeting of 22nd November 2009

The meeting was opened by Chair, Sylvia Sleigh who began by announcing the appointment of John Bousfield to the position of Vice-Chair of the branch. John introduced himself to the membership, but expressed regret that his first duty was to report the loss of one of our number, Julian Ford. Julian had suffered the effects of asbestosis for many years, but actually died of secondaries from a brain tumour. He leaves a wife and two children, and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.

One hundred and thirty delegates benefitted from two presentations on the theme of verruca management and methods of eradication. This is a subject that everyone wants to know more about, and it made for a lively, interactive meeting. As ever, the trade stands conducted brisk business,and we thank them for their unfailing suport. The meeting concluded with an excellent Sunday lunch.

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LINCOLNSHIRE AND NORFOLK OPEN CLINICAL FORUM

Report of meeting of 4th October 2009

The second meeting of the Lincolnshire and Norfolk branch of the Alliance was held at the Ramada Hotel in Kings Lynn on Sunday 4th October 2009. Twenty delegates congregated from far and wide and included four very welcome SMAE and Society colleagues. This hotel was chosen following a perusal of the event 'feedback' forms from the previous meetings' delegates who indicated that an easily accessible Norfolk venue would be appreciated. Those who attended Sunday's meeting expressed their delight that we were able to respond positively to their feedback comments. Despite some initial setbacks prior to the start of proceedings which were overcome by some wonderful teamwork, the delegates were treated to two riveting presentations by clinicians passionate in their own fields of study.

Mr Richard Barnard, Senior Biomedical Scientist from Kings Lynn Hospital gave us a colourful and detailed explanation of bacterial skin infections in the lower limb, and how to diagnose them using sample collections, in a superb presentation titled 'Walking in bad company'. Due to the small numbers of delegates present it was possible to have a more interactive session than perhaps larger numbers permit. This we all found fascinating and were able to question and seek general advice from Richard regarding our own individual practice circumstances.

Mark Collier, Nurse Specialist from the Pilgrim Hospital in Boston helped us understand 'Leg Ulcerations'. His presentation outlined among other things, how we, as private practitioners examining and assessing our patients and clients, can help in the early prediction and recognition of these debilitating conditions. Mark's talk was so interesting that as a group, and again responding to the feedback, we have asked him to conduct a workshop at our next meeting in February.

Both speakers reiterated the need for evidence-based health care to be an essential part of our daily practice, and liaising with other professionals on these issues can only enhance our reputation and practice.

Our day was supported by a trade stand mounted by Linsey Robin from Canonbury Products Ltd. Linsey, the new Area Manager for the North East, took the opportunity to inform the meeting of some welcome money saving ideas from Canonbury this season.

The day finished with an informal buffet lunch where animated conversation flowed across the boardroom style table-setting and undoubtedly new friendships were forged.

In the combined words of some of the delegates; 'It was a delight to be party to such a friendly event where the negative feelings associated with working in isolation such as trepidation and feelings of self-doubt, can be washed away in an atmosphere of mutual understanding and genuine care'.

The next meeting of the Lincolnshire and Norfolk branch will be held at the Petwood Hotel, Woodall Spa, Lincolnshire on February 7th 2010.

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ALLIANCE JOURNAL EDITORIAL - JOURNAL 27

The 2009 Annual Conference was an outstanding event and we have received a lot of complimentary feedback - thank you to all who attended and made it the success that it was. Just looking through the doors into the trade hall with more than 30 trade stands made me personally very aware and proud of what the Alliance has achieved and perhaps more importantly, reinforced the enthusiasm necessary to keep going. But the lectures were all good for practice development, delivered with good humour, thought provoking and at the right level for business. With the very well received talks delivered recently at the new Lincoln and NE OCF in February and the Yorkshire OCF in April, the Alliance continues to deliver high value CPD for practice in the most enjoyable and appropriate format.

The College of Foot Health Practitioners has introduced a new Higher Diploma in Foot Health Practice. This is based on completion of basic training and three post-graduate courses. Academically, the courses involve no less than 1,080 hours of study, taking any one unit as requiring a nominal 30 hours, and in recognition of this attainment the Alliance will acknowledge that achievement with award of a Fellowship. This is totally realistic, reflecting the natural progress that needs to be made by the serious practitioner, and the College's Higher Diploma in Foot Health Practice is expected to prove popular. It is also open and available to non-Alliance practitioners from any origin or background, so long as the criteria as set out are met in full.

By contrast, the Institute's Higher Professional Diploma in Foot Health Care Course (that's an FHP qualification to you and me - despite their declaration that they would NEVER have anything whatever to do with training FHPs) is intended to be based on a City and Guilds accredited course and they have sent their appointed lead tutor off to do a two year top-up course to gain her BSc (Hons) in Podiatric Medicine, so she is hardly yet fit to be leading a course that leads to...

They need not worry - we will not interrupt them while they are making a mistake. But we remain curious to understand how a so-called accreditation body of the calibre of City and Guilds have allegedly accredited a course that has no presently qualified tutors to teach it? Have they forgotten what accreditation is supposed to be about? Perhaps they find themselves desperate for courses to accredit and are prepared to bend the rules a bit.? So much for accreditation!

Politically, it is all too quiet. The HPC have held at least two further meetings in which the subject of licensing of FHPs and other practitioners and therapists has been discussed, but the meetings have been held in camera and nothing has been reported. So much for transparency. We now have an appointed HPC Council - not now elected. So much for democracy. The Society received no letters from April to May 2009, or published none. The Institute remain bent on suicide.

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ALLIANCE JOURNAL EDITORIAL - JOURNAL 28

The 1999 Health Bill and subsequent 2001 Statutory Instrument left us where we are now. With much of the reactive 'noise' having at last died down this seems like a good time to reflect upon where we now stand.

The Podiatry Register is now run by an independent, government-appointed regulator. In their own words: "we were set up to protect the public". In order to do this the regulator sets standards that must be met by those who are listed on that register.

In many respects, the podiatry regulator should be no different to OFWAT (Office of Water Services), the water regulator, or OFGEM (Office of Gas and Electricity Markets), the energy regulator: "taking account of the needs of vulnerable customers, particularly older people, those with disabilities and those on low incomes" is taken from the OFGEM website! Contrast that with the HPC's description of its role, below.

The podiatry regulator (Health Professions Council) now regulates 14 different professions:

"Our Council develops and monitors strategy and policy and consists of 20 members (made up of 10 registrant and 10 lay members), including the Chair. In addition, the HPC runs committees which help the Council with its work" (HPC website)

Note that just 10 registrant members are there to represent 14 presently regulated professions. Note that some of the professions are not represented on the now appointed (no longer elected) Council, and all professions will take turns at not being there. The rest of the Council is appointed 'lay' people who may have skills from which Council can benefit (accountancy, legal advice, management consultancy, personnel management - how 'lay' is a lay-member?) - sitting under the chairmanship of the President. So, to avoid ambiguity and state the situation as it is, that's actually 21 people sat round the table, is it? One of those is a podiatry representative - at present! Do you consider that your profession's point of view is properly represented here?

Gas and Electricity supply markets are controlled so as to ensure regular supply, assure investment in maintenance and future provision, and stabilise prices. The podiatry regulator serves none of these functions. In pursuing its stated aim it can only set standards and regulate its registrants. It attempts to do so by use of 'reserved titles', their use being permitted only by its fee-paying registrants (licencees). The system depends upon members of the public recognising users of the reserved titles as the only capable and safe practitioners.

But a great deal of what podiatry register title users do is also done by practitioners working under alternative titles. The general public have no difficulty accepting that practitioners who work under other titles also deliver good service (sometimes more appropriate to their needs) and find them absolutely capable of safely fulfilling their needs. This means that the present regime of regulation of the standards of the registrants is not a '.set up to protect the public' . It doesn't. However, the public do not seem to be suffering greatly due to this lack of 'protection', and may actually gain by protection from the higher fees that a 'closed' profession would almost certainly seek to apply.

For the first time for a very long time the numbers on the Podiatry Register are down. Numbers will not again be boosted by another expensive 'grandparenting' episode, not for the foreseeable future. It has taken a very long time for some practitioners to understand that little or no kudos is attached to being on the register, and that registration under the present regime means only obligation, vulnerability and grief. We now expect to see a steady decline in numbers as registrants recognise and act upon this fact.

More BSc graduates. More practitioners electing to study for the BSc. More pursuing post graduate learning. Good Higher Diploma take-up. Well-attended Open Clinical Forums. New OCF in Ireland. Growing membership. Self-determination. People actually realising the promise of a 'recession proof career'. New and established practices building - despite the recession. These are good days and should be enjoyed for what they are. Things are, on the whole, very good for Alliance members.

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From the Society of Chiropodists' Annual Delegate Assembly, April 2009 - The Report:

MOTION 9 North Yorkshire Jan Bulinski

"This Assembly is concerned about the falling membership of the Society and would like to see the Society actively promoting membership and encouraging all HPC registered practitioners to become members by offering various incentives and being more proactive in both pre and post registration.

Mover not present. No other mover found MOTION FALLS

The motion failed because the proposer did not attend.

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HAVE WE GOT NEWS FOR YOU!

With your FHP Diploma....

complete

The Verruca Course - an up-to-the-minute understanding of latest science and current treatment options - incorporates the Diploma in Cryotherapy

The Biomechanics and Orthotics Diploma - a comprehensive 'how it's done..' course for those who wish to begin provision of orthoses

Remedial Massage of the Lower Limb - soft tissue rehabilitation and a deeper understanding of the working of the lower limb

and gain the

HIGHER DIPLOMA IN FOOT HEALTH PRACTICE

demonstrates a minimum of 1,080 hours of study based on a notional 30 hours per module

. and an Alliance Fellowship in recognition of your academic achievement *

Open to all practitioners from any training background - equivalent Diplomas recognised **

- all courses count towards CPD

* conditions apply - you must accept the conditions of Alliance Fellowship and attend in person to receive the award.

** at the discretion of the Alliance Directors and Executive whose decision shall be final.

. further details. 0121 559 0180

THE VERRUCA COURSE

This newly-constructed course presents the latest science surrounding the verruca-forming human papillomavirus. Better understanding of the issues surrounding treatment will result from this examination of the human papillomavirus, its life-cycle and its close relationship to the growth and differentiation of epidermal cells.

Embedded within the course is the knowledge needed to employ cryotherapy effectively as part of the essential armamentarium necessary for success with verrucae. Six theory modules, successful examination and attendance at a Verruca Masterclass leads to the Diploma in Cryotherapy.

BIOMECHANICS & ORTHOTICS

This subject is fundamental to appreciation of how the foot and lower limb function. The subject is notorious, both for its difficulty to learn and difficulty to teach. This course is comprehensive and detailed, and presents the topics in depth with clear explanation. The course will enable you to custom design orthoses and instruct a manufacturing laboratory.

Ten theory modules and attendance at a 1½ day practical workshop followed by examination leads on successful completion to the Diploma in Biomechanics and Orthotics.

REMEDIAL MASSAGE OF THE LOWER LIMB

Not simply a massage course. The ten theory modules explore the anatomy, physiology, joint pathology, examination and rehabilitation of the lower limb and foot.

The practical sessions (delivered by Derek Jones, Sports Massage Therapist to West Bromwich Albion Football Club) teach how the understanding is applied. Success in the examination leads to award of the Diploma in Remedial Massage of the Lower Limb.

THE HIGHER DIPLOMA IN FOOT HEALTH PRACTICE

The Higher Diploma in Foot Health Practice strengthens and adds weight to your initial FHP Diploma. It is the natural way forward in your professional development and will broaden the base of your understanding and widen the range of treatment options that you can offer your clients.

Each of the courses that contribute towards the Higher Diploma contains knowledge and know-how that any developing practitioner should seek to acquire to become a well-versed, all-round practitioner.

The courses detailed here will be accepted by the Alliance of Private Sector Practitioners and recognised by the award of a Fellowship to acknowledge your academic achievement and seniority of learning.

Existing qualifications gained by others elsewhere may be accepted as counting towards the Fellowship, at the discretion of the Alliance Executive.

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IMPORTANT NOTICE

Those wishing to pursue a BSc(Hons)Podiatry degree can do so by direct approach to a university, and many have done so having gained an FHP Diploma in the first instance.

A considerable number of Alliance FHPs have already followed this route.

This demonstrates that there is no absolute requirement and we can see no obvious advantage in taking an access course or a City & Guilds foundation degree

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STILL WAITING TO LEARN .......

The Alliance notes that a 'Draft Discussion Paper on Extending Professional Regulation' was put before the Council of the HPC requesting their approval on 11th December 2008. If the draft is approved and if the HPC is appointed as the most suitable regulator to take on the expanded role, then almost every health worker will feel benefit from the proposed changes.

It is suggested that a single regulated title should be created that all practitioners who do not fit into Professional or Assistant Professional registers would voluntarily wish to acquire. The title 'Licensed Healthcare Practitioner' would by sought by FHPs, Muscular Therapists, etc .... eventually any health care worker who works upon the public. The license to use the new title would be granted and the practitioner registered only on passing a proposed regulator-set test (multichoice theory and practical). The appointed regulator would defend the title against use by unlicensed persons.

The Alliance at this point interprets this as possibly leading to:

Jane Doe, Foot Health Practitioner

Member of the Alliance of Private Sector Practitioners

Licensed Healthcare Practitioner No. 10012

The public would be educated and advised to make sure their practitioner was a 'Licensed Healthcare Practitioner' for their safety and protection.

An introduction date of April 2012 is intimated in the paper.

The Alliance will continue to monitor and report upon the development of this initiative and will make input when invited to do so.

Extracts from the document will be published in the Alliance Journal Spring /Summer Edition 2009 if the HPC Council accept the document at their strategy meeting of 10th Feb 2009.

The document can be found at:

http://www.hpc-uk.org/assets/documents/100025D45Extendingprofessionalregulation.pdf

UPDATE: The Council discussed the proposal on 10th Feb 2009 in private and scheduled further discussion to March 26th 2009. We will continue to monitor the progress of the proposal.

___________________________

THE COLLEGE OF FOOT HEALTH PRACTITIONERS WAS FOUNDED

IN NOVEMBER 1996, FOURTEENTH BIRTHDAY COMING UP!

The present title was adopted in Nov 2005 in response to legislative change

-AND THE ALLIANCE IS SEVEN YEARS OLD - LOOK HOW FAR WE 'VE COME IN SEVEN YEARS!

______________________________

New downloadable CPD topics are available now on the CPD and Publications page.

They are available to all members and non-members by simple download and can make a real contribution to your hpc cpd portfolio.

_____________________________________________

ALLIANCE CONTINUING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT POLICY

The Alliance has always promoted CPD and has always taken pride in staging and producing innovative quality presentations and products by which practitioners can develop professionally.

We totally believe that CPD is necessary as a principle, and have laboured long and hard to promote CPD as essential to practice. As a recognised and established professional organisation representing both registrants and independant practitioners, the legitimate business of the Alliance is exactly the pursuit of practice and practitioner development. Since the Alliance is not funded by public money, it uses member's subscriptions to produce CPD opportunities for its members.

Alliance members earn a minimum of 40 CPD points per year, and many accrue considerably more than this. The points system helps to define the required level of activity. Certainly our insurers would not wish to provide cover to those who would persistently and deliberately avoid such activity. Our members (all of our members) follow CPD without coercion because it is part of their personal practice outlook and constitutes a legitimate and necessary business undertaking and expense.

Some training institutions have expressed the notion that it is not right to say that CPD must be followed. We repeat in the clearest of terms that the Alliance considers CPD as absolutely essential to safe and effective practice, and those extended publishing-house training centres that make any other suggestion on their websites deserve condemnation for such unprofessional misdirection. *Note that persons 'trained' at these centres are not accepted for Alliance membership until they have undertaken further training (incurring further expense on top of their 'cheaper' course costs) to be able to meet acceptable standards.

Those who do understand correctly will acknowledge that CPD should come from a range of pursuits and be achieved by means of a spectrum of activities. The Alliance recognises appropriate (relevant) CPD from any reputable source. The 'company store' mentality is certainly not that which is practised or applied by the Alliance. Alliance members often show preference for Alliance CPD because it is set at the right level for practice and has direct clinical application.

___________________________

STATE REGISTRATION NO LONGER EXISTS

State registration ceased with the implementation of the Health Bill 1999. Thus to claim to be 'State Registered' is to claim to be something that no longer exists. The HPC have advised that the meaningless 'title' should no longer be used. Those that now 'pretend to', claim, and display this non-existent title do so with the clear and deliberate intention of perpetuating memories of previous legislation now no longer relevant, and in so-doing are misleading the public.

State registration is not and never was a qualification. Even when current it was only an indication of status (being on the register).

Alliance members are perfectly entitled to complain to the HPC or Trading Standards about this deceit where it arises. So too, are members of the public.

_____________________________

CPD AUDITS 2010

Registrants must be aware that, although they may not have been selected for the 2008 audit, there is an ongoing requirement to continue to keep a 'continuous record' of their CPD activities. If you are selected for audit two years from now your CPD portfolio must be continuous and complete.

Its not too soon to start.

__________________________________________

ALLIANCE INSURANCE is with Zurich, and the wording has been carefully scrutinised by Balens Ltd (specialist medical insurers) to ensure its strength and suitability for our practices.

The cost of Alliance insurance has not been raised 2008/9 for the fourth year running!

If you also practice any of the 92 other therapies recognised by Balens and declare these at take-up, then they will be covered by your policy at no extra cost. Other disciplines that do not appear on this list can be covered at a small extra premium.

____________________________________

UNITY!

The Alliance offers membership to private sector practitioners, be they FHPs, Podiatrists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Physiotherapists, Sports Therapists, Reflexologists, etc. All members benefit from a comprehensive package of practitioner protection, a varied range of cpd opportunities, practice promotion, development and support (and see Alliance Insurance, above - competitive rates). Common renewal date is 1st January. If you join at any other time pro-rata rates apply.

To make enquiries or learn more please contact Alliance Head Office: 3 Pendorlan Avenue, Colwyn Bay,
Conwy, N Wales LL29 8EA
Tel: 01492 531852 or 07703 576553

-'because we are all practitioners'

___________________________________________

MASTER-CLASSES are available throughout 2010 at the College of Foot Health Practitioners

Thursday Workshops are for those seeking CPD directly relevant to practice. They are open to students and practitioners of any background. Beginning at 10.00am or 2.00pm, they last 3 hours.

1. ASSESSMENT OF THE FOOT - Includes foot examination, vascular and neurological examination. Workshop employing monofilament, tuning fork, patella hammer, Doppler and examination protocols.

2. FOOT PROTECTION STRATEGIES - Includes low Dye taping for immediate relief of plantar fasciitis, silicone orthodigita, digital dressings, and how to protect the foot within the shoe.

Thursday Afternoon Workshops re-visit, revise, review an important topic

3. VERRUCA TREATMENTS - How to achieve the optimal effect from aerosol cryogens in cryotherapy, how to utilise salicylic acid in potential cautery, how to get the best results from silver nitrate. Further verruca elimination strategies are discussed.

4. ONYCHOCRYPTOSIS - The management of the ingrowing toenail.

to enrol or for further details: contact the College of Foot Health Practitioners Tel. 0121 559 0180

______________________________________

Retention of registration

Those Alliance members selected for 2008 CPD audit have retained their registration - demonstrating that Alliance CPD is at a level totally consistent with the requirements of the HPC and that Alliance members are fully capable of pursuing any such CPD as is required.

Cynical critics are fast running out of points that they can level at Alliance members. Alliance members have proven themselves capable of any and every test that has been put before them.

The HPC have written to the Alliance to inform us that 941 have lapsed from the podiatry register this year - that's 7.3% of the total - not very different to previous years. Those that expected the grandparented to leave in great numbers must again have been disappointed.

________________________________________

Note Carefully!!

The Alliance seeks to warn practitioners that if you are not registered with the Health Professions Council (HPC) you have no claim to use any of the reserved titles of the fourteen professions regulated by the HPC.

Using these titles, or any implication that you are acting as or claiming to be an HPC registrant such as chiropodist or podiatrist is illegal and you risk prosecution for so doing. This is also interpreted as extending to use of related words such as chiropody and podiatry and derivitive words such as podiatric and chiropodial.

The Alliance advises that you avoid using these terms at all, in any context, and advises use of the term Foot Health Practitioner in the case of practitioners involved in the delivery of foot health and foot care. When answering the telephone you are advised to answer the question: "is that the chiropodist"? with either your name, or with a trading name. For instance: 'It's Andrew at Prime Feet' or 'It's The Foot Spa - Sally speaking' or 'I'm Terry, the practitioner, how can I help'? Practice this form of words and use it every time you go to the 'phone. In response to 'do you do chiropody'? or 'are you a chiropodist'? the answer must be something like 'No, I'm a foot health practitioner. I take care of your feet and leave you comfortable'. Do not simply respond with a direct 'yes' to these sort of questions!

Websites must also be checked closely and revised where necessary. Take care that you do not display the Alliance logo with the banner which reads 'The Alliance of Chiropody and Podiatry Practitioners' if you are an FHP. The correct logo for FHPs has a banner which reads 'The Alliance of Private Sector Practitioners'. Displaying the wrong logo is asking for trouble. The correct logo is available from the Alliance office.

Practitioners must be careful when placing advertisements that they are not placed under chiropody and podiatry classifications. Yellow Pages has a section Foot Health, and it is here that advertisements must be placed. In other publications there will be a Health and Fitness category or similar. If doubtful, seek advice. The Alliance can be contacted on 01492 531852 or 07703 576553.

This is not simply a disclaimer for the protection of our own backs. This is a warning from a responsible professional body concerned for the professional well-being of all of its members.....

IF YOU ARE AN FHP OFFERING 'CHIROPODY SERVICES'

YOU MUST STOP DOING SO IMMEDIATELY

CHECK YOUR WEBSITES, LITERATURE AND ADVERTISEMENTS

THE RULES ARE PLAIN AND HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED IN GREAT DETAIL!!

__________________________________________________________

CHAPTER AND VERSE

Some members are reporting that they are losing business due to accusations being made that they are 'not qualified' or 'not registered'. The Health Bill 1999 is quite specific, and you are fully entitled to pursue practice. If this happens to you the Alliance needs to know who, how and when so that we can take up the case on your behalf. Be assured - no Alliance member needs to suffer this sort of harassment - but the Alliance's solicitors must have details in order to act.

The Alliance can report success in three cases to date. Other cases are ongoing and our solicitors continue to follow their instructions. The HPC and Society of C&P have been fully informed in each case.

Note that your 2009 insurance covers against slander and libel.

________________________________________

The Alliance is concerned with the positive development of private practice and the progress of individual practitioner members

Regulated or independent, all practitioners have the same need of advice, protection, networking and development

Members already recognise that the Alliance works continually and tirelessly to these ends

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