In a busy city like London, your feet work incredibly hard, walking to the tube, navigating crowded streets and standing for hours at work. In this fast-paced urban environment, it can be easy to ignore a bit of soreness or assume that a GP visit will be enough to fix the issue.

But foot health is highly specialised and sometimes the best step forward is to go directly to a podiatrist, as specialist care can identify the root cause of discomfort sooner and prevent problems from becoming more serious.

With five modern foot clinics across London, HCPC-registered podiatrists and a comprehensive range of treatments, Feet By Pody offers precise evaluations and targeted treatments that don’t just relieve pain but keep you moving more comfortably.

When to Consider a Podiatrist Over a GP

So how do you know whether you would be better seeing a GP or going straight to a podiatrist? If you’re living with ongoing foot pain, swelling or numbness, it makes sense to go directly to a specialist rather than waiting weeks to see a GP.

While general practitioners do an excellent job, they’re trained to treat the body as a whole and spend only a limited part of their training focusing on feet. Podiatrists on the other hand spend years focusing exclusively on the lower limbs, studying bone alignment, soft tissue function, mobility issues and complex foot problems.

This level of expertise means that podiatrists can diagnose and treat common foot problems like plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, verrucae, ingrown toenails, fungal infections and corns and calluses far more precisely than a GP, who’s likely to refer you to a specialist anyway.

Going directly to a podiatrist saves time, gets you the right diagnosis quicker, and puts your care in the hands of a medical professional who truly understands how your feet work and what they need to recover.

Specialist Foot Care That Goes Beyond the GP

As foot-care experts, podiatrists carry out comprehensive foot-health assessments, including circulation and nerve checks along with detailed biomechanical and gait analysis. These studies examine how the muscles, joints and bones of the legs work together when you walk or run, helping to pinpoint problems such as poor alignment, overuse injuries and postural imbalances. Custom orthotics and/or exercise plans are then prescribed to correct these issues and prevent recurrence.

Feet By Pody also offers a range of advanced treatments rarely available through general practice, including:

• Shockwave therapy for chronic heel or tendon pain, stimulating tissue repair and rapid recovery.
• Swift microwave therapy to clear persistent verrucae by triggering an immune response without damaging the surrounding skin.
• Fungal nail treatment combining expert diagnosis and ongoing care, using standard chiropody treatment alongside topical, anti-fungal agents.
• Nail and skin surgery, performed under local anaesthetic, to permanently resolve problems such as ingrown toenails or painful lesions.
• Diabetic foot assessments to monitor circulation, nerve function and skin integrity, helping to detect early signs of neuropathy or poor blood flow, and prevent complications before they develop.

Unlike the short consultations typical in GP care, our podiatrists take the time to explain findings clearly and design a tailored plan that suits individual needs, whether that means advanced treatment, orthotic support or specialised diabetic care. It’s thorough, preventative and focused entirely on keeping you comfortably on your feet.

The Feet By Pody Difference

With five London foot clinics dotted around the capital, all with modern facilities and easy public transport links, Feet By Pody offers comprehensive podiatry and chiropody services across the city. We’re fully accredited by The College of Podiatry, and every clinician is HCPC-registered, ensuring your care meets the highest professional standards.

What’s more, appointments are available six days a week including evenings and Saturdays, making it easy to fit quality foot care around your busy schedule.

Whether you’re living with persistent foot discomfort or just want reassurance that your feet are in good health, choose expert foot care trusted by Londoners and book an appointment with Feet By Pody today