Our Podiatry Clinic

About the Podiatry Clinic (established 1999)

Graeme Franklin is a highly skilled and experienced Health and Care Professions Council registered Chiropodist and Podiatrist. The HCPC is the statutory regulatory body that regulates the profession and sets standards for training, professional skills, behaviour and health.

He has successfully passed examinations in local anaesthesia and nail surgery, Prescription Only Medicines (POMs) and Injection Therapy. He has also attended many additional courses across the country including:

• Certificates in Rear-foot and Fore-foot biomechanics from Vasyli
• Biomechanics Boot Camp by Craig Payne
• Foothealth Biomechanics workshops
• Diploma in Cryotherapy, SMAE
• Injection Therapy Theory by Ian Reilly, Consultant Podiatric Surgeon
• Corticosteroid Injection Therapy Course at Institute of Chiropody and Podiatry
• Dermal Filler Course at Institute of Chiropody and Podiatry
• Prescription only Medicine Course at New College, Durham
• Clinical Pearls by Trevor Prior, Consultant Podiatric Surgeon
• Diagnostic ultrasound course, Institute of Chiropododists and Podiatrists
• Cadaver musculoskeletal guided injection course, Anglia Ruskin University Anatomy Department, School of Medicine.

Available treatments range from basic chiropody care to minor surgery including some of the most modern musculoskeletal therapies available. In addition he works closely with other clinicians in a multidisciplinary team so referral to other practitioners with a view to enhancing the patient experience and clinical outcome.

We do not require a GP referral for any treatment or procedure and can provide one-off and long-term care.

We are also accepted by a wide range of medical insurance companies including WPA, Simply Health, HSA, Sovereign Health Care and Vitality Health.

Graeme Franklin
BSc(Hons). MInstChP. Podiatrist
Registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (CH16764)

 Norfolk and Suffolk Podiatry Ltd
(Registered at Companies House No. 09467913)

Areas of special interest

New  Clearanail System and Fungal Nails 

​The Podiatry Clinic has introduced an evidence-based approach to fungal nail treatment.

Bespoke orthotics/shoe inserts

The Podiatry Clinic has successfully issued hundreds of bespoke orthotics.  The orthotics (shoe inserts) are specifically designed for individual patients and are fully bespoke. They are ideal for patients looking for relief of heel pain, flat feet, high arches, metatarsalgia, capsulitis, Morton's neuroma, tarsal tunnel syndrome, sural neuritis, knee pain, hip pain and some lower back pain. They are made from capturing the image of the feet using an optical 3D scanner to capture the foot shape to the nearest millimetre. The orthotics have a life-time guarantee against breakage and under normal usage will last many years; very much longer than off the shelf orthotics.

Orthotics sometimes form part of a treatment plan and you may also be recommended injection therapy and/or referred to other practitioners for massage and mobilisation therapy.

Verruca Treatment - Cryotherapy
The Clinic uses the Cryopen X which is a top of the range freezing device. This is very effective for many verrucae and involves freezing the verruca with nitrous oxide at -89°C (much colder than shop-bought products). As there can be some discomfort lasting a day or so the initial treatment tends to be conservative to gauge patient response. Generally 2-6 sessions are required at 4-6 weekly intervals. For many verrucae it is very effective. The Podiatry Clinic has successfully employed cryotherapy for hundreds of patients.

Verruca Treatment - Needling
Needling originated in the USA and is used routinely there although very few podiatrists offer it in the UK at present. Needling is different to conventional treatments as each individual papillae is disrupted allowing the immune system to attack the lesion directly.

Needling is normally recommended for recalcitrant verrucae in which other treatments have failed or the patient wants as few visits to the clinic as possible. Depending on verruca location an anaesthetic is injected into the ankle to numb the sole of the foot although sometimes the sole of the foot is injected directly. There can be some post-operative discomfort although this is variable. The patient will need to attend clinic about 10 days afterwards, 2 weeks after this and then at  months. All dressings and follow-up visits are included in the price and if the verruca(s) is still present after 4-5 months’ the second treatment is offered at a reduced fee.

Needling verrucas can be a very effective modality for patients who have "tried everything".

Nail Surgery performed under local anaesthetic
For recurrently painful nails surgery may be recommended. This involves numbing the toe with local anaesthetic and removing either the whole toenail or just the side. The exposed nail bed is treated with a special chemical so it doesn’t grow back. Generally the operation is well tolerated and light activity can be resumed within a few days and normal activity with a few weeks.

In the unlikely event the nail grows back and is painful the procedure can be repeated at a reduced fee.

Prolotherapy
This is an innovative treatment option for painful knees, ankles, Achilles tendon pain, heels, feet and toes. It involves injecting local anaesthetic, medical grade glucose and ultra low dose biological agents into joints, tendons and ligaments. The treatment is safe and can help will long-standing joint pain without the use of potent drugs or surgery. Typically treatments are undertaken every 2-4 weeks for 3 sessions although sometimes only one session is required.

Ostenil Plus injections (viscosupplement injections)
Ostenil injections act as a lubricant and shock absorber and work very well for painful knee joints. Often only one injection is required every 6 months or so.

Please note all treatments are subject to a medical assessment and will only be carried out at the discretion of the Podiatrist.

Home visits may be available for housebound patients.

Clinics

Gorleston Clinic
c/o DrA Consulting Rooms
Progress House
Church Road
Gorleston
Great Yarmouth
NR31 6NP

Central Reception: 01493 301226

 

Norwich Clinic
The Podiatry Clinic
The Therapy Centre
5 Hurricane Way, Norwich
Norfolk, NR6 6EZ

Central Reception: 01493 301226