When is a Chiropodist a Podiatrist?
Choose Chiropodist or Podiatrist? When is a Chiropodist a Podiatrist? Simple answer they are not. A podiatrist is degree trained unlike chiropodists, and have extended scope of practice to offer more skills than routine basic foot care. Internet searches will say they are the same, but in principle they are not.
The term chiropodist is outdated. It is not fit for purpose to describe and reflect what a podiatrist does. Newly qualified post-graduates term themselves Podiatrists. They do want to consider themselves chiropodists. This belittles their qualification. It is almost derogatory and backward thinking as a description, not fit for purpose in the 21st century.
A similar example to draw on is Optician vs Optometrist. The term optician is now misleading. When do I choose between an Optician or Optometrist? The general public think an optician is an optometrist, but they are not the same. An optometrist writes a prescription and an optician fits and sells glasses and contact lenses to correct vision. An optician is not a person qualified to examine eyes.
Previously Podiatrists and Chiropodists were grouped together in The Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrist, but this changed December 2018.We now have The College of Podiatry which is the Professional Body and Trade Union representing over 10,000 private practitioners, NHS podiatrists and students. The College of Podiatry often works in partnership with leaders in the foot health industry to promote the profession.
Chiropody as a professional term applies more to Foot Health Practitioners; those individuals who are not so qualified. The Professional Standards Organisation clearly states: Foot Health Practitioners work on a wide range of less specialist and invasive procedures. Foot Health Practitioners cannot be employed in an NHS setting.
The general public does not know how to differentiate between the three classifications. Foot Health Practitioner, Chiropodist or Podiatrist? Who do I choose? The main problem in proliferating confusion and misappropriation of identity is leading search engine companies like Google and Yell. They will not allow a differentiation between Chiropody and Podiatry. Their default description choice is Chiropody or Chiropody, whether you are a Foot Health Practitioner or Podiatrist. We have all been lumped together in Chiropody!
This is great for the Foot Health Practitioners, as they get a promotion to chiropodist, but not for the podiatrists. There clearly is an inequity and it leads to disingenuous ability claims and can mislead the public. Older generations think all foot health professionals are Chiropodists! Maybe that is why the term stays? Unfortunately, main regulatory bodies are not doing enough to advise internet search companies to reflect change.
Another major issue is that main governing regulatory bodies won’t clear up the confusion. They are happy to call degree trained podiatrists, chiropodists. It is not raising the bar and is detrimental in recruiting new students. Being called a podiatrist is far more sexy than being termed a chiropodist, which has old-fashioned connotations.
In conclusion, big internet search engine companies need to help make the distinction. In that way the public will soon know the difference, certainly amongst the younger generations. Regulatory bodies need to do the same. How do Podiatrists move their profession on, when they are lumped in with Chiropodists? All said, no disrespect to Foot Health Practitioners they have their place to play in providing routine foot care, but is it fair playing field? Google get with it!
