Fancy footwork
Sir: Chiropodists are no doubt fair game for your wittier contributors at all times of year, but in the season of goodwill Candida Crewe (`The sour smell of chiropody', 22/29 December) is perhaps a little unkind.
The article dwells excessively upon the state of the patient's feet upon arrival at the chiropodist's surgery. No doubt dealing with this is an unpleasant preliminary to the day's work for many practitioners, but, in comparison with, for example, the tor- ment of travel on Network South East, its duration is limited and soon becomes acceptable.
I can only speak for the state-registered sector (there are approximately 6,500 state- registered chiropodists, not 5,000 as quoted in your article, and only they may work in the NHS) but can confirm that the 14 recognised schools of chiropody are re- cruiting well for the three-year course, despite the growing shortage of eligible applicants in the relevant age range. Grow- ing numbers of mature (in age, I mean) students are joining the student body, now over 1250 strong. I have no idea of the source of your contributor's contention that chiropody is one of the three least favoured professions. Its appeal is to those who seek a career in a profession allied to medicine, which offers regular patient con- tact combined with a high level of academic skill (half the students are now on degree courses) and above all a caring approach. Our feet serve us well, and carry us the equivalent of five times round the earth in our lifetime: yet most of us grossly neglect them from birth.
So instead of unseasonal gibes at a much maligned profession, might I suggest sup- port for the Society's campaign for a wider eligibility for NHS chiropody treatment, now largely restricted to the elderly?
J. Trouncer
General Secretary, Society of Chiropodists, 53 Welbeck Street, London W1
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