Louisa Mays
“I enjoy every part of my profession. I believe that one should always perform to the best of one’s ability in all areas from nail care to nail surgery, foot pain to diabetic issues. Healthy feet can improve general health immeasurably and vice versa.”
Louisa Mays - Podiatrist
“Louisa qualified from Northampton University in 2004. Since then she’s been working in both the NHS and private podiatry clinics, and continues to enjoy the variety that this partnership brings.
Since graduating Louisa has been a member of the College of Podiatry and finds this organisation very helpful in initially fostering her undergraduate studies and now post-graduation in keeping her knowledge and skills updated. The annual conference, ‘Podiatry Now’ publication and online tools and seminars all provide sources for podiatrists to readily access the latest equipment and information.
Louisa particularly enjoys treating (amongst others, as there are too many to name);
- Ingrowing toenails
- Corns
- Hard skin
- Fungal skin and nail infections
- Heel pain
- Verrucas
- along with managing diabetic, rheumatoid and osteoarthritic feet. Sometimes this does mean onward referral because this will provide the best outcome for my patient.
Podiatry as a profession is constantly evolving in line with the progression in the medical and allied fields, and Louisa works hard to keep up-to-date and provide the best advice when it comes to treatments and products that are presently considered ineffective or dangerous.
“I aim to provide excellent care for all my patients which is tailored for them individually.” – Louisa Mays
Practitioner Summary
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I joined the NHS in 2004 after graduation and spent 13 years looking after my Oxford patients in a variety of settings. In late 2017 I began to blend my NHS and Private Podiatry work and this continues to this day.
I enjoy every part of podiatry however due to the nature of my previous work I would say that I specialise in ‘at risk’ feet. My other interest is in Nail Surgery, in fact my Undergraduate thesis was based on this. Sometimes, despite conservative treatment an ingrowing toenail will not resolve and this procedure is very effective.
I particular like treating:
- Corns,
- Calluses
- Ingrowing toenails
- Toenail cutting
- Simple biomechanics (dropped arches etc.)
- Verrucas
But I’m always happy seeing anyone with any foot problems.
Initially I take a thorough medical history and details of the presenting problem.
Then I assess the foot and (if relevant) the lower limb, diagnose and develop a plan of treatment.
After discussing this with my patient, agreeing on a plan of action and proposed outcome then we put this into practice.
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What is the difference between a Podiatrist and a Chiropodist?
These are essentially the same profession however podiatrist is a more accurate name for the profession in its present form, it is also a more internationally recognised term.
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How often should I come in?
It varies from patient to patient and problem to problem, basically as often as you need to. Some people will need to come in regularly and this will be discussed and agreed and reviewed as we go along. Others will only require one treatment to resolve their issue.
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How do I know that you are qualified?
A question we like people to ask. All qualified podiatrists are registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Registration is only given on proof of passing the relevant examinations and audits are performed to ensure that we are continuing to develop professionally.
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Why is the initial appointment longer?
This is because there is a lot of information to communicate in order to make an accurate assessment of your foot needs. Not devoting time to this initially can lead to ineffective treatments and/or misunderstandings.
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Is my information safe?
Yes, the practice has robust security protection to ensure that your details are accessible (when you want them to be) but also protected from cyber attack. Naturally I abide by the GDPR regulations which govern our use of patient information.
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Can you remove my corn and will it come back?
Yes, I can remove a corn but preventing it from coming back depends on the cause of the pressure which has resulted in the corn. I can advise you on this, and if you are wearing shoes that are too tight I will tell you!
- How can I stop my heels from becoming dry and cracked?
I can remove callus that has built up. Filing and good quality foot cream are necessary to prevent further occurrence. - Can you get rid of this fungus on my nails?
No, but I can advise you on treatment options that you may be able to use yourself. - Can you get rid of this verruca?
No, your own immune system has to get rid of it for you. I can advise on suitable treatment options though.
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Nicola Ruddick
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Nicola qualified as a Foot Health Practitioner in 2014 from the SMAE Institute in Maidenhead. She worked in a very busy Age UK clinic specialising in routine footcare for 2 years before focussing on a wider range of foot related issues with a mobile clinic, treating patients in their own homes.