Job Description
A career in Podiatry may be a highly rewarding profession for those dedicated to the vocation of health care.
Once qualified a wide range of professional competences would be required, including:
- assessing, diagnosing and treating abnormalities and diseases related to the foot and lower limb in people of all ages;
- providing treatment of disorders among high-risk patient groups such as the elderly and those with increased risk of amputation;
- providing advice and making referrals as appropriate;
- using therapeutic and surgical techniques to treat foot and lower leg issues (e.g. carrying out nail and soft tissue surgery using local anaesthesia);
- prescribing, producing and fitting orthotics and other aids and appliances;
- delivering foot health education, particularly to more vulnerable social groups including, the elderly, children and those with medical problems such as osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis;
- working closely with other medical practitioners such as doctors, nurses, physiotherapists and other health care professionals in the provision of multidisciplinary team delivery of healthcare;
- understanding the mechanics of the body in order to preserve, restore and develop movement;
- working with men and women in sports to address sports-related injuries to legs and feet;
- using a range of equipment including surgical instruments, dressings, treatment tables, orthotic (inner sole) materials (orthotic fabrication, grinders (orthotic fabrication), shaping equipment, x-ray and video gait-analysis equipment (which allows for analysis of patients’ walking or running problems);
- treating patients who have an underlying illness or condition, such as very poor circulation, that puts their legs and feet at increased risk of injury and disability;
- assessing, treating and advising patients in order to reduce long-term and serious problems that could lead to amputation.
Entry Requirements
- The undergraduate level degree course leading to state registration in Podiatry with the council of professions complimentary to medicine (CPCPM) is currently the Bachelors of Science Degree with Honours in Podiatry, which in Malta is only offered by the University of Malta.
- This is a four year programme leading to a first-cycle BSc (Hons) degree. Entry requirements included the following:
- The minimum entry requirements for admittance to a degree course at University of Malta
- Special course requirements:
- (A) An Advanced Level pass at Grade C or better in Biology; and
- (B) An Intermediate Level pass in either Chemistry or Physics.
- For more information on the University course please follow this link. Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Podiatry