Why do I work in different clinics as a podiatrist?

A few weeks back, I was having lunch with a podiatry colleague when she asked why I work at a few different places instead of working from one clinic and building that one clinic and growing it!

My reply was simple.

All I know is that I am unable to work at the same place five or six days a week. I always need variety every single day.  To me, the thought of going to work daily to one place bores me and I will always look for reasons for not wanting to go to work.

After I got home, I was intrigued as why do I need this?

I’ve worked in a number of well-established and prestigious clinics over the years, but there is little else that feels like having your own business.

Working at a variety of different places on each day of the week, has always been grained into my DNA -  I have always been a bit of a nomad from a young age, never really staying in one place too long. I used to live in Kenya and I was then sent to the UK as a teenager for further education.

I have always had one foot in each country until I made the decision of living in the UK. That meant I had to get my variety in a different way – working in different places as I couldn’t move countries on weekly basis. I am sure I would love too, if this was at all possible!

Currently I work at three different locations:

• Niva Medical Clinic in Stanmore.

• Precious Soles in Potters Bar.

• Apek Pharmacy in Paddington, which is my first location.

While the work I do is broadly the same, each clinic offers me the variety I need and a different experience.

My first clinic was started during lockdown following gentle guidance from the foot and ankle consultants I work with on the NHS.  I’ve love working here as it’s my own clinic and even though I work alone, if I need advice I have access to the whole team of Foot & Ankle experts from across the road where I can bounce ideas and welcome any feedback.

My second clinical location is in Previous Soles.  And started following a separate collaboration with footwear specialists because I am always keen to find the perfect pair of shoes and trainers.

Most of my patients, always ask which shoe or trainer is the best for me and when I reply “comfort is key”, they look at me which some trepidation.

“What comfort? Really, is this what you suggest?!”

And its true, I can suggest a few names but if you don’t find them comfortable – there is no point as you will never wear them and blame me for wasting your money.

I had a list of my ‘Go To shoes or trainers’. However, there is such a variety of brands and even within those brands, there is selection that may not suit all foot types.

I would send patients to the main high street stores and they all reported that the staff never really took an interest in their feet or making any suggestions on the various choices.

However, this all changed when I met Peter and Jonathan from Precious Soles, at a conference in 2024.

They would always measure the foot, the old-fashioned way. They took pride in their work, and it was never about making a hard sale.

Clients are advised from the minute they come in that they are should only buy the shoes, if they are happy and the shoe is the right fit for the patient. The team always take their time explaining why one shoe or trainer is better than another or in my case why I need one size up from what I was currently wearing. (Obviously I was in shock-horror with this especially as I am a podiatrist).

Clients could walk away if they didn’t agree with team, without facing any backlash from them. In fact, the whole shop has a family run atmosphere with love radiating from each corner of the shop as well as between each member of staff. They are also particularly talented when dealing all age groups whether younger or old clients. You can often see the team playing with the younger age groups.

I love working with the team at Precious Soles as it is a symbiotic relationship and I get to learn a lot from their expertise and in return, I try and help the patients that they send my way to resolve their issues.

My third clinical location is Niva Medial Centre.

I noticed this new private GP place over the Christmas and New year period on facebook and it was in my neighbourhood!

I hadn’t seen it previously so, off I went to visit it.

It was closed over the holiday period but looking into the window, it looked very professional, modern and clinically clean.

It looked like it had been designed for one reason – that being medical appointments.

I noted down the email and reached out to the GP himself with a little bit of background information about me. He responded pretty much that evening and arranged to meet up. He was honest that he hadn’t thought about offering podiatry services, but he was keen to try it. To me, I have always loved working with other health professionals. I love the collaboration of this joint working, sharing ideas, bouncing different suggestions, all with one aim – to improve patient’s health.  And he worked closely with a physiotherapist who also worked in a hospital and in his clinic. I enjoy building links with professionals local to the clinic with the main aim of helping patients close to where they live.

The clinic is centrally based and it a hub with close proximity to other towns within Harrow and Hertfordshire like Edgware, Kingsbury, Queensbury, Wembley, Bushey, Watford.

All of these clinics tick various boxes for me.

• Variety for me, so I don’t get bored.

• Collaborating with great professionals to help expand my network.

• Being able to help patients in a range of locations.

To say I enjoy my job is an understatement, but being able to move around reminds me of my nomadic heritage, and that always puts a smile on my face.