Pedorthic Shoe Technician

[Durban]

Hello all,

 

I am thinking of doing the PST course offered by the SSIA(shoe Service Institute of America)

 

But when I return to the uk in 2 years will it count for anything?

 

Is there anything similar offered by anyone in the uk and if not why not?

 

http://www.ssia.info/industry/pst/index.asp

 

 

 

Cheers, Durban.

[Gingerbas]

Looks ok for the US only, in the UK you either have to become an Orthotist/Prosthetist or a Podiatrist, both are 4 years at university, to be recognised. As for technicians there is at the moment know national recognised training or diploma. I have worked now as an orthotic technician for twenty odd years. It basically looks like it won't be recognised across here.

[hibsjo(SCO)]

ginge we recognise you

carry on!

[Gingerbas]

Having looked again I noticed half the shoe adaptions are not done anymore. Give me the $395 and I'll show you how to adapt shoes and not over the internet.

 

 

Cheers Joe!

[elfman]

quite right ginge a lot of those adaptions are no longer done as they have been replaced by plastics i,e wedges and elongations are now very rarely done unless its for the older patients who either cant or wont use the plastic orthosis

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

Methinks Politics and costs are riding high on this one.

Went with my Grandaughter (3 years old) and Daughter to see a specialist over a Supination problem.

It thought she was going to give me a set of measurements so that I could adapt her shoes and make a portable insert, but they dont do anything now until the kids are 7 years old then if the problem has not corrected itself they then consider Orthotics and/or Surgery.

My guess is that they are hoping the problem will go away without spending any NHS money.

She got quite flustered when I started talking technical.

10 years ago I got requests from NHS patients and from Doctors to put a half inch/15mm raise on a particular shoe.

No indication on how it was to be applied, ie all the way through/to the waist/angled/what material. Those giving the instructions were not clued up on the latest materials.

Vaugely worded instructions can do more damage than good unless the technician is experienced, unfortunately many doctors are by passing Hospitals and giving their patients a rough instruction to take to their local Shoe Repairer thereby saving costs.

 

In my opinion you should have to have some valid hands on training with a Tutor before being allowed to alter footwear for Surgical needs. Woe betide anyone who carries out an alteration that turns out to cause more harm than good.

 

Can be very rewarding though, when you see positive results of your work many years later.

[keithm]

There lies an opportunity for skilled technicians to contact GP surgeries and offer their services

[elfman]

write the gps if you like keith but it wont do you much good , i doubt very much if many or any gps deal with this work ,as far as i know the only input they have is refring the patient to the hospital ,after that its all down to the orthopeadic consultant to determin what is required he then passes it to an orthist to size up and then passed to the applience officer to dish out the work to the respective companys and it generally goes to the company that the orthotist works for as the hospitals no longer directly employ the orthotist they pay a session fee to a healthcare company for the service which can be as much as £130 per morning or afternoon session

[Hugh-Candoit (ENG)]

There are some GPs who advice the Patient to get the work done at the local "Cobblers".

My GP Practice houses about 12 of them, all trying to save money (so that the Practice manager can cash in on the profits) (methinks.)(or spend the money saved on extra services for the Senior Citizens like me)