Thames Valley Foot Health Group

WE are proud to belong to a not-for-profit interest group of around 60 foot health professionals and/or podiatrists.

We all have a common interest of continual professional development and we hope to raise the profile of our group and what we bring to the region, making it special.

By special I mean we are unique and have more than 60 members which translates into at least 50,000 appointments annually in the Thames Valley.

This is a significant service that we all play a role in, to keep our patients comfortable and on their feet.

To do this we have all had varying careers and life journeys leading us into the foot profession, which is not usually the first choice for the youth of today.

It takes a certain degree of empathy, a level of knowledge beyond just cutting a toenail, and certainly a good steady hand, decent eyesight and a good bedside manner to communicate with our patients.

Speaking of careers, we should announce that the Thames Valley has a much respected foot health training college, the SMAE Institute in Maidenhead, where students can progress throughout the spectrum of study to become a fully fledged podiatrist. The SMAE Institute offers a degree course with the Queen Margaret University of Edinburgh and this is a good option for anyone looking to step into a rewarding career. The UK stock of foot health professionals is low and the demand is growing with the increasing older population.

Our group is so-called because we draw foot health professionals from all around our meeting venue in Sonning and it has been in existence for many years.

Membership numbers took a drop due to the covid-19 pandemic, now we are challenged with other factors, such as competition. Attracting new recruits always remains key to our future.

We face competition from modern-day learning methods of online CPD and people becoming insular in their study patterns. One must not forget the educational value of face-to-face, peer-to-peer discussion offering noticeable perspectives towards self -development.

Learning at home is always going to have its benefits too but if we lose touch with others we run the risk of losing that tangible human connection and only years in time will tell how that affects us all. We have a diverse group of members and some of them volunteer their time towards the Forgotten Feet Charity, which co-ordinates work with many of the UK’s homeless centres, providing foot care for the homeless and vulnerable in our society.

There are venues being serviced by some of our members in the Thames Valley area, namely Windsor, Slough, Reading and Oxford. Additionally, Forgotten Feet offers short clinical placements to some of the students studying the BSc (Hons) in podiatry at the SMAE Institute.

The group looks towards a more secure future by enticing new members, keeping up with varying CPD subjects relevant to us all and doing what they can to address any new medical techniques.

To do this the group needs more members so if you are keen to connect with others and do some great CPD then do get in touch. Visit www.thames
valleyfoothealthgroup.co.uk