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NHS community nail cutting service Cambridge & Bristol - is this fair?

Discussion in 'United Kingdom' started by Leah Claydon, Aug 24, 2014.

  1. Leah Claydon

    Leah Claydon Active Member


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    Dear Colleagues

    I thought I'd throw this out there.

    http://www.cambscommunityservices.n...-focus-foot-care-service-extends-to-cambridge

    Cambs Community Care NHS is recruiting more podiatrists as they expand their Social Nail Care service. They have recently cast off a lot of existing patients, deemed lower risk, and advised them that from now on they'll have to find their own private practitioner or use their new £15 per cut service. Patients pay an initial £10 for their Clippers & File which they keep and bring along for their following appointments. (I was surprised at this for many reasons).

    I am aware that Bristol NHS is also offering this service.

    I am sure a £15 nail cutting service is very attractive to many patients as the private sector is often considerably more. In my practice we offer a £22 nails only appointment for simple nail cutting of non complex nails in a 15 minute appointment. (Our usual fee is £38 which is the going rate for Registered pods in private clinics in Cambridge).

    I set up my clinic 3 years ago in the depths of recession, it wasn't easy, but I am pleased to say we are doing well - we are busy, I have taken on another podiatrist associate; but I have to confess that this social nail care enterprise has rankled with me. We already have to compete with the unregistered and the FHPs and now 'our own' are competing against us.

    It is of course a very 'worthy' enterprise but I cannot possibly charge what they are charging - my base overhead before earning a penny for my self is £3500 per month which is the price of renting on a high street.

    Doe anyone else have any thoughts on this?

    Leah
     
  2. Of course, it's crazy, Leah - but the answer is, as always, in our own hands. If the podiatrists in each NHS department refused to implement these policies in the first place then they would not happen. It wouldn't be difficult to construct an attractive argument against it - as you have, but it won't happen of course as our profession is mostly characterised by people whose only retort when told to jump would be "how high?"

    And I think you need to relocate your surgery if your base rental costs are £3,500p/m....
     
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