Podiatry
Podiatry is an allied health profession. Podiatrists treat and care for people whose feet and legs have been affected by injury or illness. Read the career stories from some Podiatrists working in the South East below. To find out more about becoming a Podiatrist visit the Health Careers website.
Finding our feet after results day
Read Maisy’s and Connie’s healthcare career stories, fully-qualified Podiatrists working at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust
Maisy
Despite not getting the A-Level results to study a degree in physiotherapy, 22-year-old Maisy Walker said the clearing process helped open up a new career pathway to study at the university she’d always wanted to.
“It was all a bit of a drama on results day. The pandemic meant we didn’t sit our exams that year and the coursework grades I initially received weren’t a true reflection of the work I’d put in.”
“I was really upset initially, but going through the clearing process really helped. I ended up speaking to the podiatry lead at Plymouth University where I’d had my heart set on going.
“I didn’t know very much about podiatry, but once I learned more about how it incorporates aspects of physio, nursing and musculoskeletal care, I quickly realised it would be the perfect course for me.”
For Maisy, the three years spent at university were ‘the best three years ever’. She now works as a fully-qualified podiatrist at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.
She said: “It is really rewarding working as a fully-qualified podiatrist, having my own caseload of patients and building relationships with them. As one of the youngest members of the team, my colleagues are genuinely caring and make sure I’m ok. I feel like there are really clear pathways in the NHS and that I’m in a stable job for the future.
“If you’ve not had the results you hoped for, there are always other options and courses, it’s not something to worry about. Just find something you enjoy, even it’s not exactly what you originally set out to do, it might surprise you.”
Connie
Twenty-year-old Connie Regan was set on becoming a physiotherapist, but after a disheartening A-Level results day, a new career in podiatry was the calling she would never have otherwise answered.
“I was always interested in sports growing up and physiotherapy felt like a natural career choice for me, so it was disheartening not getting the grades I hoped for,” explained Connie.
“My career advisor helped talk me through other options and one of those was the podiatry course at Brighton University.
“My first reaction was, ‘what’s podiatry?’ Most people are familiar with physiotherapy, but podiatry was a new area of healthcare for me.
“I learned that, like physio, podiatry has a very hands-on approach to treatment and I would still be able to go down the sports pathway too. In fact, there are so many different other routes in podiatry such as vulnerable footcare and diabetes care. I liked that it was like a specialised physio and the job possibilities afterwards were really positive.”
Making the brave move from Birmingham to Brighton, Connie said the whole experience has given her new life skills and confidence.
“Living and studying in Brighton gave me the confidence to apply for a job in Kent and I’m now in my first month working as a fully-qualified podiatrist at Kent Community Health NHS Foundation Trust.”
Connie’s advice to anyone going through a challenging results day is:
“Don’t be disheartened, look at other options that most align with your goals and give it a go. Everything happens for a reason.”
Maria Mitchell, Senior Allied Health Profession Workforce and Education Specialist
NHS England South East
“I have been a qualified Podiatrist for over 16 years and I have had so many rewarding experiences. Allied Health professionals can work in many clinical settings, and also within education, research and leadership roles. I am still excited about where my career may take me.”
Whilst at college I knew I wanted to go into a health care but I didn’t feel I have a good understanding of all the options open to me. I went to a careers advisor and did work experience with a Radiographer, Podiatrist and Physiotherapist. I really enjoyed the work experience within the Podiatry service and felt this could be the career for me. I applied for University and was accepted to the University of Brighton.
I have been a qualified Podiatrist for over 16 years and I have had so many rewarding experiences. Clinically I specialised in Paediatrics, assessing and treating children with leg and feet problems. This is a very rewarding part of the role and it gave me the opportunity to work with other professionals, including physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists and consultants.
I now work for NHS England and work with health and social care providers to ensure our allied health professionals have the right skills to deliver the care our patients need. Becoming a health profession is not a static career, it gives you opportunities to develop and continue to learn. Since qualifying as a Podiatrist, I have completed my Masters in clinical research and I am now undertaking a PhD. Allied Health professionals can work in many clinical settings, and also within education, research and leadership roles. I am still excited about where my career may take me.