Opening hours Monday - Wednesday 9am - 3pm
PLEASE NOTE
The A57 Snake Pass Road between Glossop and Ladybower Reservoir is closed 14-25 October. For clients travelling from Manchester and the west, please use the A6 Buxton Road and A623 towards Tideswell
NHS FUNDED FOOTWEAR
Do we make footwear for NHS clients ?
Yes is the simple answer, if only it was that simple though. Hopefully the full explanation in the opposite column will help explain more fully.
Is there any difference in quality ?
Quite simply, no. All the footwear we make receives the same care and attention, the same quality materials and the same care and attention to detail. In fact, with the involvement of your NHS orthotist you will also receive the advice and cooperation of your NHS clinic.
Will I have to pay towards them ?
Normally no, but there are situations where you might chose to contribute.
The NHS footwear pricing structure does not pay for the cost of making the lasts required. Clients are advised to pay for their lasts to be made by The Cordwainer, they are then the property of the client so that they can be assured of better fitting lasts when I am retired.
How long do they take to make ?
Our normal delivery for all footwear is around 8-12 weeks depending on how complicated the footwear required.
Will I have to visit the workshop in Derbyshire ?
By visiting the workshop we can ensure the measuring and fitting of your footwear is made to our standards.
If you prefer that your hospital does the measuring and fitting, we will still work with them to provide the best service we can.
Do I have to pay for a consultation ?
If you just want to chat about we can help you then I do make a small consultation charge of £55.00 which you would have to pay (the NHS will not fund consultations). I am also happy to provide a written report on your footwear needs for you to present to your hospital for a further £75.00.
If the NHS place an order for footwear prior to you visiting us then these is no charge for a consultation.
If you have had footwear privately but seek future footwear through the NHS.
Occasionally private clients ask if future items of footwear could be made through the NHS. Again it is at the discretion of the service provider if they will authorise the work to be done by The Cordwainer, based on the above criteria. Experience shows that hospitals are keen to provide a good service to their patients and in most cases this has been allowed but it is at the discretion of the service provider.
Guidelines for clients who are entitled to NHS prescribed footwear.
It is important to note that whilst The Cordwainer is happy to work alongside all Health Service providers, the provision of footwear through the NHS is at the sole discretion of the clinician/orthotic department concerned.
Some NHS service providers are happy to have The Cordwainer provide a service for their patients while others will only use their established suppliers. As The Cordwainer is not currently contracted through NHS procurement arrangements, this might influence the decision whether or not to use The Cordwainer as a supplier.
If you have not had footwear from the NHS before.
There are two possible routes to the service you need. If you are not under a specialist or consultant, you must first see your GP who will refer you to your local service provider. Usually you will first see a Specialist Consultant related to your disability who will then prescribe the footwear you need, then pass you on to the Orthotic or Surgical Appliance Department who are responsible for the provision of the footwear. Here an Orthotist will measure you for footwear and the Head of Department will decide which supplier will be most suitable for the supply of the footwear.
If you are already under the care of a consultant they might well refer you directly to the Orthotic or Surgical Appliance Department. In any case you would have to explain why you would wish me to make your footwear rather than the service provided by the hospital. From my experience it is unlikely you will have footwear made by me in this instance.
If you have had footwear from the NHS before.
If you are happy with your existing footwear then the service provider will assess your need for further footwear. If you have not been happy with the footwear you have been wearing, you should make this known to the clinic where you received the service and give them the opportunity to make what alterations are required to correct the problem. If the problems cannot be resolved then each hospital will have a Patient Support Manager who will take on your complaint and seek to remedy any problem.
If the problems cannot be resolved through these means then you have the choice to have your shoes made privately or ask if the hospital / service provider would consider using The Cordwainer as the supplier for your footwear. They will then make the decision based on clinical need and financial implications whether or not they wish to use The Cordwainer as a supplier.
Can you visit me at home ?
All appointments for NHS funded footwear must take place at either your hospital or at our workshop, so the answer is 'no' home visits for NHS patients.