Podiatrist? Chiropodist? Foot Health Practitioner?

What is the difference between a Chiropodist, a Podiatrist and a Foot Health Practitioner?

There is no difference between a Chiropodist and a Podiatrist – Podiatrist has replaced the term Chiropodist as a more modern name. A Podiatrist has a degree in Podiatry and specialises in foot, ankle and lower leg conditions such as bunions and hammertoes. They are able to use local anaesthetic and some can perform surgical procedures such as correcting bunions.

A Foot Health Practitioner caters for routine foot care such as treatment of corns, calluses, verrucae, ingrown toenails and nail cutting.

It can be argued that both Podiatrists and Foot Health Practitioners are foot specialists but in slightly different ways. Both may be based in Foot Clinics or may be mobile providing foot services in the home. Mobile foot services may be of particular interest to people who may be elderly or housebound.