Have a few questions? Read below, and if you don’t find the answers you need, feel free to contact us through social media or call us on (02) 4323 9100.
A podiatrist is an allied health professional who is dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and management of lower limb and foot problems. These may include skin and nail conditions, foot ankle and/or knee pain, foot and lower limb complications related to diabetes or other chronic diseases, and any other problems associated with gait or walking.
Podiatrists play an integral role in monitoring disease and managing lower limb issues across a diverse range of people. Patient demographics range from children through to the elderly monitoring children’s development, lower limb biomechanics, sporting injuries, chronic disease and disability.
A podiatrist is registered by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and must have a Bachelor of Podiatry.
No – you do not need a referral to see us.
A General Practitioner referral is only necessary if:
- Your doctor has recommended treatment as part of an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Plan
- Please note, there are Medicare rebates for EPC holders
- You are a veteran seeking treatment under a Gold or White card
- You are seeking treatment under a work cover or third-party insurance claim.
Depending on the primary concern of the patient a thorough assessment will be performed for either general podiatry or biomechanical concerns (sporting injuries, children’s development, etc).
In a general podiatry consultation, a thorough medical history will be taken and, depending on the requirements of the patient, full neurological and vascular examinations will be performed. These treatments cover a wide scope of foot problems including:
- Footcare (skin and nails such as ingrown or thickened nails, corns, callouses, cracked heels)
- Warts, tinea and other skin pathologies
- Fungal nail infections
- Diabetic foot assessments
If the primary concern is of a biomechanical nature, our podiatrists take a thorough medical history and will evaluate the patient’s biomechanics from their hips down to their toes. An extensive evaluation will be taken lying down and standing up as well as a comprehensive gait analysis. Our podiatrists are able to refer for other diagnostic tests (X-ray, ultrasound, CT scan) if required and will typically develop a detailed treatment plan during the initial consultation.
If the patient has been referred to Riverside Podiatry, a comprehensive report will be sent to the referring practitioner outlining our podiatrists’ findings and the proposed treatment plan.
To assist you with your initial consult at Riverside Podiatry, have a look at our helpful hints in the Articles section of our website.
Shoes are more than just a fashion accessory; they play a vital role in supporting and protecting our feet during our activities of daily living. There isn’t one shoe that is perfect for everyone. Everyone’s feet are different in shape and size so it is important you look at different styles to accommodate your particular foot shape.
People who have suffered an injury to their foot or have a medical condition such as arthritis or diabetes may require shoes with extra width or depth. These may need to be prescribed by a podiatrist.
Some important tips for buying shoes:
- Your toes should not touch the end of the shoes when standing – leave a 1cm gap from the longest toe
- Shoes should be comfortable straight away, so don’t buy shoes that need “breaking in”
- The height of the heel should be less than 2.5cm otherwise there is too much pressure of the ball of the foot and your falls risk is higher
- Shoes should have a well-padded sole to act as a shock absorber and reduce the risk of injury
- Shoes that have breathable material reduced the risk of fungal infections.
- Buy shoes later in the day – feet tend to swell during the day so it is best to fit shoes when feet are at their largest.
For more information regarding the importance of footwear see the Articles section of our website.
Yes – if your health fund covers you for podiatry and/or orthotics we will be able to claim directly from your private health fund for you with our on-site HICAPS facilities with little to no out of pocket expense. Please contact your private health fund for more information about the rebates you may be eligible for.
Appointment times vary depending on your requirements. An initial consult is 40 minutes but subsequent consultations can vary between 10-30 minutes at the podiatrist’s discretion.
- If you were referred by your doctor or another health profession please bring your referral letter.
- If you have any relevant scans (e.g. X-rays, ultrasound, CT) – this may assist in our diagnosis and treatment.
- Bring along any new or old shoes (sport, casual, work, etc) so their support and wear patterns can be assessed. If you require new shoes, do not purchase these until after your appointment so your podiatrist can assist you with buying the right shoe.
- If you have an old or current pair of orthoses bring these along as well.
- Ideally wear comfortable clothing that you would wear to exercise. This will allow the podiatrist to easily assess your legs and feet.
To assist you with your initial consult at Riverside Podiatry, have a look at our helpful hints in the Articles section of our website.
No. We are currently unable to provide home visits.
Yes – if eligible, your General Practitioner can arrange and EPC or Chronic Disease Management (CDM) referral for you which provides a Medicare rebate. You will receive a $58.00 rebate (as of 01/07/2023) from Medicare for each of the consultations covered by the referral.
Our practise is mixed billing. While there will be a gap associated with all initial consultations and new care plans, you can have subsequent consultations on a care plan bulk billed, if you see Elise Stevenson. Our Senior Podiatrists, Ellie Kelly and Renee Carroll, charge a gap as they do not bulk bill.
Please notify our reception staff when you have a new referral.
Yes – please notify our reception staff when booking your appointment. We will need you to bring your claim number and any relevant documentation with you.
Yes – please notify our reception staff when booking your appointment. Please bring your DVA referral documentation with you.
Foot care is particularly important if you have diabetes. People with diabetes are at higher risk of complications to their feet. Your feet can be affected in two ways: circulation problems (peripheral vascular disease) and reduced sensation (peripheral neuropathy). Your feet can also change shape, become dry or develop calluses which is why it is important to see a podiatrist. Regular diabetic assessment and general treatments keep your feet happy and healthy, lowers the risk of complications and assists with early detection/intervention. These risks can also by reduced by exercising, eating a balanced diet, maintaining stable blood glucose levels and by taking care of your feet.
Our practice is mixed billing.
Podiatrist Elise Stevenson bulk bills subsequent consultations on a Chronic Disease Management Care Plan from your GP (also known as an EPC or CDM).
If you require the services of one of our Senior Podiatrists (Ellie Kelly and Renee Carroll) you will receive a rebate of $58.00 (as of 01/07/23) of the consultation fee.
All initial consultations and new care plans require a gap payment. We keep our gaps for care to a modest amount.
Contact us for more information.
Yes – please notify our reception staff if you are a participant under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). We see self-funded NDIS participants only. Please bring your NDIS plan outlining the funding for your supports to the appointment.
OPENING HOURS
| WEST GOSFORD | WYONG | TUGGERAH | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday | 8:00AM – 8:00PM | ||
| Tuesday | 8:00AM – 6:00PM | 8:00AM – 4:00PM | |
| Wednesday | 8:00AM – 5:00PM | 8:00AM – 5:00PM | 8:00AM – 4:00PM |
| Thursday | 1:00PM – 7:00PM | 8:00AM – 5:00PM | 8:00AM – 12:00PM |
| Friday | 8:00AM – 5:00PM | 8:00AM – 4:00PM | |
| Saturday | 10:00AM – 2:00PM | ||
| Sunday | Closed | Closed | Closed |
Flat feet are not necessarily bad. Flat feet can result from / in poor lower limb alignment and can therefore predispose you to painful foot conditions or other functional abnormalities that may require assessment or treatment. Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as “flat feet = bad feet”. Some people may go through life with flat feet and not have a problem at all. Others may have flat feet with unrecognised symptoms – in other words they see the symptoms they experience in their feet as “normal”. Other people may have relatively normal arches in their feet and have a plethora of problems that need correction / realignment because of pain in their feet. If you have pain in your feet or you are concerned about whether your flat feet will cause you problems in the future it’s best to get in touch with a podiatrist.
While it is normal to have a degree of tiredness in your feet at the end of a working day generally, no, it is not normal to have pain in the feet. Feet are engineered to stand and to walk and given their normal function and environment they do this very well. With that said, there are abnormal internal and external factors that may lead to deterioration in function and either instantly or overtime stress the internal structures of the foot and leg and this is usually where pain develops. These factors can include external environmental factors such as hard flat surfaces or internal factors that involve developmental / alignment of your feet and lower limbs. If you have high levels of pain or pain that lingers after you have sat down after work or that comes and goes regularly it is best to see a podiatrist to investigate the underlying causes and get you back on your feet!
