While dentist services are currently limited, there’s nothing stopping podiatrists from looking at your feet.

The Covid19 health and hygiene restrictions our health system is working under has been causing some confusing messages for people needing teeth or feet care.

Dentists are operating under level 3 restrictions, meaning only emergency cases can be looked at and no aerosols can be used. This has resulted in some Lismore dentist surgeries closing or reducing operating hours. 

Podiatry

For husband and wife team Lara Ivanchenko and Tom Murray Prior, their Lismore podiatry practice, A-Foot In Front Podiatry, has been hit hard, with many customers cancelling appointments, and some ringing up to see if the practice is still allowed to remain open.

“We are open and we are considered an essential service,” Lara said. 

“We are getting a lot of cancellations because many of our clients are elderly and are isolating because of Covid, but some people thought we were not allowed to be open too.”

Tom said many of their clients are “high risk” and are in need of regular treatments to avoid infections and ongoing health issues and hospitalisation.

“80% of people over 65 see a podiatrist,” Tom said. “Health condition like diabetes, arthritis and vascular problems increase with age and put different pressures on feet and the way you walk and can cause things like ingrown toenails, corns and calluses.

“As health professionals, we always follow stringent infection control procedures and our instruments are sterilised and we are always wiping down, cleaning and following the new rules to stop the spread of the virus.”

The couple said they have been practicing in Lismore for 25 years and after the 2017 flood moved to their current location at 6 Diadem Street, opposite the Kmart loading dock.

“Any elderly people coming here can park right in front of the door and we are following social distancing measures,” Lara said.

If you want to contact them, phone 66214200.

Dentistry

Goonellabah’s Sapphire Smiles Dental Care practice manager Amit Thaker said a lot of planned treatments were cancelled when the Government announced level three restrictions for dentists.

“We can’t perform procedures that generate aerosols, but we can help people and look at them if there’s an emergency,” Amit said. 

“We can check if you have an infection and address it and make sure it doesn’t flare up - and we can write medication scripts.

“We do need to use personal protective equipment and have limited supplies, so if we need to, we might need to send clients to the hospital, or to a specialist if it’s something we can’t deal with.

“We are discouraging walk-ins to the clinic and have been receiving phone messages, where we go through a Covid-19 questionnaire to make sure the client is clinically safe.

“Things are changing rapidly and every day it seems new restrictions are in place, but we are following the advice of the Dental Association, which is working with the health authorities.”

Amit said the practice would be open next Monday, but intended to close Tuesday until after Easter because it was difficult to keep operating when there were few patients they can help at the moment.