Painful corns. Hard skin that keeps coming back. A toenail grown into the corner that catches on your sock. Or simply not being able to reach your feet to look after them any more.
Callus build-up, corns, painful verrucae, cracked heels and ill-fitting shoes all make walking uncomfortable, and nails that are overly long, thickened, ingrown or fungal need regular attention.
The Clinic at Borde Hill offers foot health care in Haywards Heath with Pauline Gaston, a fully qualified and insured Foot Health Practitioner. Our coverage area runs across Mid Sussex and includes Cuckfield, Lindfield, Burgess Hill, Hassocks, Crawley, Horsham and East Grinstead.
Foot Health Practitioner, chiropodist or podiatrist — what’s the difference?
Most people type “chiropodist” into a search box when their feet need attention, so it helps to know what the titles mean.
In the UK, “chiropodist” and “podiatrist” are protected titles. They mean essentially the same thing — podiatry is simply the more modern word for chiropody — and both are restricted by law to professionals registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC). Nobody outside that register may use either title.
A Foot Health Practitioner holds a different qualification and is not on the HCPC register, so neither of those protected titles applies. The work is routine foot health care: cutting and reducing toenails, easing corns and calluses, hard skin and cracked heels, verruca and fungal nail care, and general foot checks. Nail surgery, prescription medicines and complex wound care sit outside that scope and are the province of an HCPC-registered professional.
Routine foot health care of exactly that kind is what this clinic provides, for children and adults of all ages.
Foot problems people come in for
Toenail cutting and routine nail care
Straightforward toenail cutting is the most everyday reason to book: professional nail trimming, plus the reduction of nails that have thickened. Routine maintenance is part of the service, so this can be a standing nail cutting service for anyone who can no longer reach their own feet to manage it.
Thickened, ingrown and involuted nails
Nails that curl into the side of the toe (involuted), grow into the flesh at the corner (ingrown) or have thickened are all part of Pauline’s nail care work.
Corns, calluses, hard skin and cracked heels
Corns, calluses and areas of hard skin are reduced during the appointment, along with care for cracked skin. Pauline also looks at the footwear behind the build-up, because advice on prevention and pressure relief is part of the care plan.
Verrucae, fungal nails and athlete’s foot
Verrucae, athlete’s foot and fungal nails are all conditions Pauline sees and can advise on.
Padding, orthotics and footwear advice
For patients with metatarsalgia and flat feet, Pauline can make and supply detachable pads to ease discomfort and provide support. Orthotics are prepared and provided, and shoe fitting advice is part of the service.
Foot care for people with diabetes
First, the important part: this is routine foot care, not diabetes care. If you have diabetes, keep following your GP’s or your diabetes team’s advice, and go back to them for anything they have told you needs their attention.
With that said, Pauline has a particular interest in foot care for people with diabetes and sees patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes for routine foot care appointments. For those patients a neurovascular assessment of the foot is carried out at each visit: pulses are taken, skin colour assessed, temperature noted, and sensation and motor function examined.
Fees and session times
Cost is usually the first question, so here are our foot health fees in full.
| Service | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation | £56 | |
| Follow-up sessions | 35 to 50 minutes | £46 |
The initial consultation includes both assessment and treatment. See also the clinic’s Fees & Availabilities page.
Clinic availability: Wednesdays, 9.30am to 7.00pm, so there are evening slots if you cannot get away during the working day.
Your first appointment: what happens
Your foot health care begins with medical history taking and a neurovascular assessment, then treatment of the skin and nails, alongside advice on prevention and suitable footwear. It finishes with a care plan agreed with you, so you know when to come back.
Appointments are thorough and unhurried, and all of them take place at the clinic.
Meet Pauline Gaston
Pauline Gaston is a fully qualified and insured Foot Health Practitioner (DipFH, MCFHP, MAFHP), with a reputation for a gentle, compassionate approach and for care that is thorough and unhurried. She sees children and adults of all ages.
Read more about her training and background on her own page: Pauline Gaston, our Foot Health Practitioner.
Visiting the clinic — Borde Hill, Haywards Heath
Clinic at Borde Hill Naldred Farm Offices, Borde Hill Lane, Haywards Heath, West Sussex, RH16 1XR (Find us on Google Maps)
Phone: 01444 616797 Email: info@clinicatbordehill.com
There is free on-site parking, signposted from Borde Hill Lane, and disabled access. Haywards Heath is the nearest mainline station, and the clinic is a short taxi ride from the station or the town centre. We are in a rural setting, so if you are coming by bus please check local timetables first. Full directions are on our contact page.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Foot Health Practitioner the same as a chiropodist?
No. “Chiropodist” and “podiatrist” are protected titles in the UK. They mean essentially the same thing as each other, and both are restricted by law to professionals on the HCPC register. A Foot Health Practitioner is a separate qualification outside that register and does not use either title. Much of what people are looking for when they search for a chiropodist is routine foot health care, which does not require an HCPC-registered professional.
Do I need a referral to see a Foot Health Practitioner?
No, you can book directly with us, whether you need routine nail care or have a specific concern.
How much does a foot health appointment cost?
An initial consultation, including assessment and treatment, is £56. Follow-up sessions are £46 and run for 35 to 50 minutes.
What should I bring to my first appointment?
A list of any current medications, and the shoes you wear most frequently, so Pauline can take a thorough medical history and give tailored advice on footwear and pressure relief.
Can I get foot care on the NHS?
The Clinic at Borde Hill is a private clinic: you book directly and pay for your appointment. If you would rather explore NHS foot care, your GP is the right place to ask.
Book your foot health appointment
To request an assessment with Pauline, call 01444 616797, email info@clinicatbordehill.com, or use the contact form on this page.