Shetland Voluntary Nail-Cutting Service
Rorie Laidlay
Co-ordinator, Shetland Voluntary Nail Cutting Service
Summary
A nail-cutting service staffed by volunteers was set up at the request of local people, leaving the Chiropodist/Podiatrist free to deal with more serious cases. Service users are included on the Committee.
Dates
Start Date: 6
End Date: 7
Location
Shetland
Sector
Community care, Primary care
Target groups
Older people
Methods Used
Aims and objectives
To see people who don’t need to go to the Chiropodist / Podiatrist and those who need a nail-cut between Chiropody appointments.
What we did
Following numerous complaints at the lack of a nail-cutting service in Shetland, representatives from the former Local Health Council met with the NHS Board. A scheme whereby individuals cut patients’ nails on a voluntary basis was proposed. The project was led by Dr Laidlay, a retired GP.
The current volunteers are retired Nurses. The Voluntary Nail Cutting Service has a Committee which meets once a year and includes both volunteers and service users. It is a patient-led referral-only service, established to meet the needs of local people. It was established at a time when there was no longer a reason for simple nail cuts to be referred to a Chiropodist/Podiatrist. Financial support for the Service is provided by NHS Shetland.
The current volunteers are retired Nurses. The Voluntary Nail Cutting Service has a Committee which meets once a year and includes both volunteers and service users. It is a patient-led referral-only service, established to meet the needs of local people. It was established at a time when there was no longer a reason for simple nail cuts to be referred to a Chiropodist/Podiatrist. Financial support for the Service is provided by NHS Shetland.
Evaluation
The project is ongoing. Each year, the Committee meets and looks at the service provided. The annual Committee Meeting is also attended by users who are encouraged to make suggestions on how the Service could be improved.
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland congratulated the establishment of the Voluntary Nail Cutting Service, highlighting it as an “innovative approach to overcoming the changes to Podiatry services. The setup of the Volunteer Nail Cutting Service is the first of its kind in Scotland and has been held up as an example of good practice in terms of the benefits to patients, whilst increasing volunteering opportunities within the health service”.
NHS Quality Improvement Scotland congratulated the establishment of the Voluntary Nail Cutting Service, highlighting it as an “innovative approach to overcoming the changes to Podiatry services. The setup of the Volunteer Nail Cutting Service is the first of its kind in Scotland and has been held up as an example of good practice in terms of the benefits to patients, whilst increasing volunteering opportunities within the health service”.
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