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Are we the only profession that is in this situation

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Simon Ross, Dec 21, 2015.

  1. Simon Ross

    Simon Ross Active Member


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    I have been reading a copy of January 2016's Podiatry Now, Private Practice. Monthly Tips.

    I saw this clinic's website. I saw that their fee for a home visit is only ?5 more than the surgery fee. I was watching "The Apprentice Final" last night and the guy who won it is a plumber and he charges ?50 call out fee, yes, that is ?50 call out fee, before he has even started.

    Why is it, that our profession is either so poorly valued by the public, or we undervalue our skills/time so much, that we only charge, or can only get away with charging an extra ?5 call out fee for a DOM.

    Why has this ridiculous situation be allowed to happen?

    I do like her definition of housebound. Unfortunately many elderly people think that because they do not own a car, they are housebound. Have they heard of the words bus or taxi?
     
  2. Claire72

    Claire72 Active Member

    Hi Simon
    It is up to us as Podiatrists to improve our own perception of Podiatry. We have let this situation happen. In the case you have mentioned, the clinic owner has undervalued their/our skills (although I have not read the article and will go and read it now).

    When my eldest son learnt to drive, there were (probably still are) loads of driving schools offering lessons for less than ?10 per hour when bought in a bulk block. As I bought my sons lessons I could not comprehend allowing my son to be taught such a complicated skill as driving with a (in my view a professional) teacher who valued their own time at less than the minimum wage. (Consequently we paid ?32 per hour and the boy passed first time, but of course we have no money left to contribute to his astronomical insurance fees!!)

    Simon - are you in the UK?
     
  3. Claire72

    Claire72 Active Member

    Simon
    Had a look at the Rochdale clinic website and saw the five pounds increase for home visits. Maybe they don't get many requests for home visits, or the relatively low fee is an oversight. Thus, I retract the comment I made about that clinic undervaluing our skills until better informed.

    However, as for raising the profile of Podiatry - I think the website at first glance (coz its all about the aesthetic) is fantastic! I would visit that clinic in a flash; informative, easy to read, engaging, personal, clear.

    Claire
     
  4. gdenbyUK

    gdenbyUK Active Member

    I tend to operate my rural Podiatry clinic in Northamptonshire at ?70 per hour: www.footwisepodiatry.co.uk Over a decade I have invested much in the clinic and its equipment, which is not generally available to domiciliary visits. I charge ?52 for a home visit, to cover some of the rural travel costs (perhaps a half hour!). This also allows me to choose to discount a regular client convalescing at home after a hospital stay or serious illness. I do one or two doms a month - which suits my knees, neck, back and eyes just fine!

    I respect those who focus on doms and who can cut-down their travel time by grouping near neighbours together on a regular round. I suggest they still account for their mileage at the UK tax-deductible rate of 45 pence per mile (not the odd ?5 extra).
     
  5. Simon Ross

    Simon Ross Active Member

    When you have people that specialize in unblocking drains charging more for a call out than we do, it says something.

    Also, it's amazing how many housebound pensioners can get to the dentist!
     
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