What Matters To You: Podiatry Service - Breaking Down Barriers To Health Inequality.
6 June 2024
In celebration of’ What Matters to You’, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Podiatry Service has shined a light on its outreach programmes which deliver podiatric care to those impacted by homelessness and substance misuse at safe sites around Sheffield.
For several-years the Podiatry Service at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust has worked with its community partners to deliver care to some of the most vulnerable in our society. Each month, the Podiatry Service runs clinics on site a both Ben’s Centre and the Archer Project. Recently, Sheffield City Council reported that homelessness had reached an all-time high in 2024, making these healthcare outreach programmes more essential than ever before.
Andrew Nurse, a client of the Archer Project has been using the service for the past 12-months after finding himself homeless for six-months before finding temporary accommodation. He said “it’s good that podiatry offers this service as I often find it difficult to access healthcare services. The podiatrist has made my feet feel more comfortable and reduced my pain”.
Kyle Fixter, Specialist Podiatrist, has been delivering care on site at both Ben’s Centre and Archer Project for the past few years. Kyle said “it’s more than just delivering podiatric care, it’s about building trust, and connecting with those who may not access healthcare services for a variety of reasons. What matters to me is helping people gain access to healthcare services whose circumstances might make it difficult and offering these outreach clinics starts, in some small way, to address this.
David Taylor said, “Ben’s Centre has really helped me, I walk six miles a day round trip to visit, and having the podiatrist on site is amazing. I usually suffer with foot pain, but after seeing Kyle my feet feel great – it’s foot-tastic”.
Saul Hill, Professional Head of Podiatry, said, “Putting services in the heart of the community help support those individuals who are impacted by challenging situations to rebuild their lives and achieve stability”.
“What Matters to You’ day takes place every year on 6th June and aims to encourage and support more meaningful conversations between those providing healthcare and those receiving it.
ENDS
PHOTO 1: Andrew Nurse with Specialist Podiatrist, Kyle Fixter.
PHOTO 2: David Taylor with Specialist Podiatrist, Kyle Fixter.
