TWO of the Island’s NHS podiatry clinics are to close next month.
The clinics in Peel and Laxey, which treat almost 350 patients, will be shut down on October 4 although the Department of Health has said that this is not a cost cutting exercise.
Director of Health Strategy and Performance, Norman McGregor Edwards, said: "It’s not going to achieve a cost saving. There will still be the same number of staff and the same number of patients."
A recent review of the podiatry service highlighted problems with the clinics which are being closed.
Mr McGregor Edwards continued: "The review showed that the clinics in Peel and Laxey have particular problems.
"There is a problem with infection control. The clinics are not dangerous but current standards for infection control say that you should not disinfect instruments where patients are present to reduce the risk of infection.
"This is something that is lacking at Peel and Laxey because of space considerations. If we were going to change this it would involve some fairly significant modifications to the clinics."
He believes that the closures will actually benefit service users - of which there are 76 in Laxey and 270 in Peel.
Mr McGregor Edwards said: "From every point it’s better, better for the patients, for the staff and better that we will be able to provide 30-40 more appointments.
"There are better facilities in Douglas, proper decontamination facilities and if all podiatrists are based in Douglas they are better placed to provide additional care."
Patients from Peel and Laxey will be required to travel to the Douglas clinic which is situated in the old Noble’s Hospital on Westmoreland Road.
Mr McGregor Edwards continued: "The downside of it is that for those individuals who routinely go to Peel and Laxey, they will now have to come here which is less convenient for them. We know that and acknowledge that but I think that the benefit to patients is a more important consideration."
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