Podiatrist

You'll diagnose and treat foot and ankle disorders to help people stay active and mobile.

As a podiatrist you'll give people advice about keeping their feet healthy, choosing footwear and how to prevent problems.

You'll see a wide range of patients, including:

• athletes with sports injuries

• adults with foot or ankle pain

• elderly people with arthritis

• children with lower leg pain or walking problems

Your tasks might include:

• assessing and diagnosing people’s injuries and issues

• discussing options for treatment with patients

• carrying out treatments and minor surgery using scalpels, chemicals and local anaesthetics

• screening children for foot problems

• diagnosing and treating sports injuries

• advising people about how to take care of their feet so problems don’t recur

For people who are at high risk of foot injury or disability, such as people with diabetes, you’d provide long-term care.

You’ll need to plan workloads to spend time with patients and keep accurate records of their treatment.

You’ll supervise podiatry assistants. You'll also work with other health professionals, such as orthopaedic specialists, GPs and health visitors.

You could be self-employed and run your own practice, work in the private sector or work for the National Health Service (NHS).

• Podiatrist job profile on the NHS Scotland Careers website

• Royal College of Podiatry - Careers