New NHS podiatry clinic opens at University of Brighton

A new NHS podiatry clinic has opened at the University of Brighton, creating more than 4,500 additional appointments a year for patients across Sussex.

The facility, which is being run in partnership with Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, will also give student podiatrists more hands-on experience working alongside NHS professionals.

More than 600 people have already attended appointments since the clinic began operating in July.

The clinic was officially opened on 6 October and is based at the University of Brighton’s Sport & Health Complex in Falmer.

Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust currently receives around 9,300 referrals to podiatry services each year.

The new facility is expected to increase capacity and improve access to care for patients across West Sussex and Brighton & Hove.

Siobhan Melia, Chief Executive of Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, said: “This new clinic is fantastic news for our patients. At the heart of this new clinic is our commitment to helping more people access timely, high-quality podiatry care in a modern clinical environment.

“It also has a special personal significance for me, as my own journey to becoming an NHS Chief Executive began here, as a podiatry student at the University of Brighton.

“I’m incredibly proud that our partnership will help patients get the care they need while giving future podiatrists the clinical experience and opportunities that were so important at the start of my own career.”

The opening comes amid concerns about shortages in the podiatry workforce.

Figures cited by the university show the number of registered podiatrists has fallen by nearly nine per cent over the past five years, while thousands more could leave the profession in the coming years.

Demand for podiatry care is also expected to grow, particularly as diabetes rates increase.

Students on the University of Brighton’s BSc Podiatry course will be able to work alongside NHS practitioners in the clinic as part of their placements.

The university says this will help students build their clinical skills, confidence and experience before entering the workforce.

Professor Donna Whitehead, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton, said: “The opening of this new clinic is a significant milestone for the University of Brighton, Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust and, most importantly, for our students and the communities we serve.

“Practice-based education is central to preparing healthcare professionals for the realities of their future careers.”

The University of Brighton has a long history of podiatry education and created the UK’s first undergraduate podiatry degree.

It is currently the only institution in the South East offering preregistration podiatry training.

The new clinic has also been designed with accessibility in mind, including additional parking, Blue Badge spaces close to the entrance and improved access for people with disabilities.

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