Paediatric Podiatric Surgery

[BabithaPear]

My 11 year old DD has been diagnosed with a sub-ungual exostosis on her big toe, which requires surgery. We already paid privately for her to have the toenail removed (having been misled by the GP that the NHS didn't commission podiatry for under 18s) and this then led to the new diagnosis. Local NHS doesn't commission podiatric surgery for children and so we've been referred to NHS orthopedics BUT initial consultation appointment isn't until December. Local private podiatric surgeon is unable to treat children.

Just looking for some advice on where we could turn next really. If we wait until December, the toe nail will have started to grow back and so will require removal again and we'll be back to square one...

Is your local podiatrist able to suggest anyone who does treat children ?

Alternatively you could ring around local private hospitals and ask if they provide paediatric podiatry surgery.

I know the 'regulations' on treating children are much tougher than for adults, eg specific paediatric training etc, plus the requirement for supportive care services, which does restrict the care available unfortunately

Thank you. It was actually our local podiatrist who recommended the local podiatric surgeon who's unable to help.

Good advice about ringing round local private hospitals, thank you.

It depends what trust it is, my current trust does not treat children but the last one I was at in Sussex did. I regularly did nail surgery on children from about 7 up under local.
Can you get referred to another trust?

Thank you, I will try and ask that too.