Audlem Podiatry service cut

The carer of a local Podiatry patient has received the following message from Adrian Leach, the Central & East Cheshire PCT Podiatry Services Manager. He says:

"We have had to temporarily close the Podiatry service at Audlem due to the combination a member of staff being on long term sick leave and another who does a clinic at Audlem requesting a reduction in hours – specifically at that clinic.

"We have informed the practice manager and Dr Muirhead. As you will probably know the financial situation is going from bad to worse and it seems likely that a number of smaller peripheral clinics will have to close in an effort to increase efficiency."

He then adds: "Unfortunately we are still looking at a 10% budget cut this year."

This is curious in many ways. Firstly, Audlem has been transferred to the Western Cheshire PCT and their senior managers gave a firm promise – reported on Audlem Online on 16th April – that there would be no changes whatsoever as far as patients were concerned as a result of the change of PCTs.

Secondly, we are assured that the NHS budget is 'ring-fenced' by the Government yet the Podiatry service budget locally is being cut by 10%.

We are sure all would appreciate a full explanation from whichever Primary Care Trust, Central & Eastern Cheshire or Western Cheshire, is supposed to be providing the Podiatry service at present.

Ideally, that explanation might include why a member of staff can simply choose to cut their hours specifically at Audlem and that results in the loss of a valuable local service for elderly patients who may find it very difficult to travel elsewhere.

Audlem Online will be pleased to publish the PCT's explanation in full.

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