Thousands denied foot treatment

Without foot care many elderly can have problems getting around

Thousands of people are being denied essential care for feet problems on the NHS, according to the Conservatives.

Shadow health minister John Baron has estimated that at least 600,000 people are being left out in the cold.

The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists backed the figures saying NHS staff do not have the resources to provide care to all those who need it.

But a spokeswoman for the Department of Health has dismissed the claims, saying the figures do not add up.

Millions treated

The latest figures from the Department of Health show that 2.16m patients were treated by chiropodists on the NHS last year.

This is up only marginally on the previous 12 months. This is despite the fact that an additional 826,000 people were referred for treatment during the year.

People who are not perceived to be high risk are being taken off lists Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists spokeswoman

The vast majority of patients who are treated for foot problems require medical care for years.

As a result, the overall number of patients should in theory rise in line with the number of new referrals.

The Tories said the fact that the overall number of patients being treated did not rise significantly suggests that many of these are simply not being seen on the NHS.

Mr Baron said as many as 600,000 people are being denied the care they need on the NHS.

A report published last year came up with similar figures.

At the time, Health Minister John Hutton pledged to look into the issue.

But the Tories have accused the government of failing to tackle the problem.

"There has been a wall of silence," said Mr Baron.

"It is simply outrageous that 600,000 people are being denied any form of foot care altogether," he said.

"Good foot care often means to many elderly people the difference between relying on other people and independence.

"Elderly people must not suffer this lottery. The government must act now to resolve this crisis."

'Care rationed'

The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists backed the Tory figures.

"We would agree with this," a spokeswoman told BBC News Online.

"Over the past seven years, resources for chiropody have decreased. Podiatrists are having to ration care.

"This means that people with the greatest need are being treated whereas people who are not perceived to be high risk are being taken off lists.

"This means they have to go outside the NHS for treatment."

But a spokeswoman for the Department of Health dismissed the Tory figures.

"We only collect information on patients who receive chiropody care, not those who don't. Hence we don't know and therefore don't recognise where the figures quoted come from."

She added: "People with the greatest clinical need should be treated first."

Foot care is vitally important for older people, as foot problems can rob them of whatever mobility and independence they have.

For diabetics, neglecting foot care can allow the effects of poor circulation to go unchecked - leading to unnecessary suffering, and perhaps even lower limb amputations, which might have been avoided.