Pat McFadden MP recently tabled some parliamentary questions about chiropody provision in the NHS, asking for a comparison between the number of NHS chiropodists employed when Labour left office compared to today. The Department of Health confirmed in the answer that between 2010 and last year there was a drop of 369 or 12% in England during this period.

The following table shows the number of chiropodists employed at National Health Service trusts and CCGs as at October 2019, the latest available data compared to October 2010, full time equivalent.

October 2010   October 2019   Change     % Change                                                                                                                                                                                                            3,072                  2,703                  -369           12%

These figures show that although we have had a lot of talk from the Government about austerity being over that is not the case.

It means people waiting longer, sometimes in pain, for much needed treatment. It also adds hugely to the pressure under which the remaining chiropodists are working.