Does anyone know about getting referred for orthotics, please ?

[Cinnamoncookie]

I'm 38 and was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my big toe joints in January.

I originally went to my GP, who referred me to a podiatry specialist surgery at a hospital in another health authority from where I live (I live one side of London, the hospital is the other side of London). They took x-rays and the consultant made the diagnosis, and I've been having injections of hyluronic acid / steroids.

The consultant has said that he highly recommends I get orthotics, but as the clinic I've been attending only deals with podiatric surgical matters, they can't assist and I need a further referral from my GP.

I asked my GP to refer me, and he said he can't because there isn't an NHS-approved orthotics provider located in my health authority, and he's not able to refer me to one in another HA.

This seems weird to me since he was able to refer me to the surgeon in the first place (there are only about 4 podiatric surgery specialist clinics in London), but I don't know much about the strange and arcane ways that the NHS works.

Does anyone else have experience of this ? Can I look up an orthotics specialist and refer myself ? Can I give my GP a list of names and ask him to refer me ? Or do I have to resign myself to going private ?

Many thanks for any assistance

Not sure if this helps, but I'll share what I know.

I suffer from flat feet & have gone private for all the treatment - mainly as I could not wait for the NHS waiting periods to be seen - as I had chronic knee pain. Got my podiatrist & orthotics privately.

Now DD (6 yrs) is also diagnosed with flat feet. But for her I have stuck with NHS as hers will be a long treatment over many years & many show sizes. She is seeing specialists in West Middlesex. Today (coincidentally) is her orthotist appointment where she will (am hoping) be measured for custom orthotics.

The West Mid Podiatry team is quite excellent & I hope you can get yourself referred there.

If you are in a rush - you could go to 'Foot Solutions' store in Richmond where they can make you a pair of custom orthotics after gait analysis/measurements etc. It costs around £300 & takes 3 weeks. Lasts 5 years (or so they say). Mine have been going well for 2+ years.

Hope you get your referral! Good luck!

*'Shoe' not 'show'

Thank you for the info, SwimmingMom, that's very helpful.

Anyone else know anything about referrals ?

I don't understand why you can't ask for a referral to the local podiatry department. I wonder if your GP is confusing referring to an orthotist when they should be sending you to a podiatrist. My advice is to look up the number for the local NHS podiatry service and ring them to find out what they do.
You have a standard and very frequently seen problem OP. Most private podiatrists would be able to deal with this easily.
The other thing you could do is buy some Vasyli orthotics off the internet. Not perfect but probably good enough.