Lack of NHS chiropodists leaves OAP housebound for months

Published on Tuesday 2 May 2006 01:34

A SCOTTISH pensioner was left stranded in his home for four months because there was no NHS chiropodist available to cut his toenails.

Widower George Shepherd, 78, was left too weak to bend down and clip his own nails after he had two hip replacements and a shoulder replacement. He was left to wait 11 months to get his nails cut due to a shortage of NHS chiropodists before he was finally given the simple treatment last week.

With inch-long nails, he had struggled to fit into any of his shoes and was left to fend for himself in his Westhill, Aberdeenshire, home.

"I can't cut my toenails and can't look after my feet and the carers who pop in to see me are not even allowed to do anything," he said.

He went on: "I've not been able to put my feet into any of my shoes since Christmas because my nails were so long.

"I couldn't wear shoes, could just sometimes fit into a pair of slippers, but most of the time just shuffled about in socks.

"I contacted my doctor numerous times but he said he couldn't force the chiropodist to make an appointment."

Nanette Milne, health spokeswoman for the Scottish Conservatives, branded the situation a disgrace.

NHS Grampian said there were about 200 people in the Westhill area waiting for the same treatment.

A year-long wait is typical for non-clinical toenail cutting due to pressures on the service.

An NHS Grampian spokesman said: "I think we ought to acknowledge waiting times for this particular service are much longer than we would want.

"This is not a problem with recruitment, but we are having to prioritise cases. We are looking to improve the service and see patients within six months."