Foot care ‘not being recognized as the need it is’: Sask. nurse
Health-care advocates in Saskatchewan are raising concerns about the lack of coverage for foot care in the province and are taking action to address the issue. The Advanced Foot Care Nurses of Saskatchewan have launched a petition calling for increased funding for foot-care services.
Bree Wright, a registered nurse and operator of a foot clinic in Moose Jaw, is leading the charge. She runs an advanced foot-care course that trains nurses to provide specialized foot care. Wright emphasized the importance of recognizing the need for proper foot health and lower limb care, urging other professionals to join the cause.
Currently, foot-care services provided by registered nurses are not covered by the government for the majority of the population. Only patients on social assistance and First Nations and Inuit individuals receive coverage for these services. Private health-care providers cover podiatry services, which are more advanced foot-care treatments administered by doctors.
Dr. Ata Stationwala, the president of the Saskatchewan College of Podiatrists, highlighted the challenge of limited access to insured foot-care services due to the small number of registered podiatrists in the province. He expressed support for expanding the role of nurses in providing foot care but emphasized the need for comprehensive training before insurance coverage is extended to their services.
Wright and other foot-care advocates believe that nurses and podiatrists can work together to address the issue. They argue that the advanced foot-care training provided to nurses is sufficient to warrant insurance coverage, as it builds upon their existing nursing skills to specialize in foot care.
Neglecting foot issues can lead to serious health complications, such as foot ulcers and fungal infections, especially for individuals with diabetes. Lisa Fletcher, a foot-care nurse in Saskatoon, shared stories of patients seeking treatment for neglected foot problems due to financial constraints. She emphasized the urgency of addressing foot issues promptly, especially during the winter months when conditions like frostbite can escalate quickly.
To support individuals experiencing homelessness, Fletcher is organizing a fundraiser in Saskatoon to raise money for foot-care services. She has also signed Wright’s petition calling for increased funding for foot care in Saskatchewan.
Overall, the efforts of health-care advocates in Saskatchewan aim to improve access to essential foot-care services and raise awareness about the importance of foot health in preventing serious complications. By working together with government officials and healthcare providers, they hope to secure better coverage for foot care services across the province.
