Chairman Max Hine with Stuart Bastin and President David
Happy Feet
Chairman Max Hine introduced the guest speaker for the evening Stuart Bastin from The Podium Podiatry Group.
Stuart graduated from La Trobe University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Podiatry. After graduating he began working in aged care facilities, retirement villages and clinics located in the City of Casey and Cardinia shire. Twelve months after graduating Stuart took up the senior Podiatrist role at the West Gippsland Healthcare Group (WGHG) providing services across the Baw Baw Shire. After three years at WGHG, Stuart decided to return to private practice, working in Berwick for two years before opening Podium Podiatry with Jack Fitzpatrick in 2014. Stuart is committed to, and actively involved with a number of local sports clubs throughout central and West Gippsland. Stuart’s Sports of choice are Football and Basketball. Stuart enjoys working with children, high risk feet and providing Diabetic Foot Care.
Podium Podiatry was established in 2013 and currently has four clinics. Apart from Drouin, there are clinics in Bunyip and Korumburra locally, but these two have reduced opening hours so a phone call for these times is recommended. The fourth Clinic is in metropolitan Melbourne.
A feature of Podium’s care that not all Podiatry Clinics undertake is that they will make home visits, particularly for the elderly and infirmed.
Podium Podiatry strives to provide the highest quality of foot and lower limb care to all of their patients. In addition to this they offer a great range of footwear and foot care products.
The Podiatrists are experts in all areas of Podiatry, from treatment of corns, calluses and nail conditions to assessment and management of complex biomechanical issues, foot pain and sporting injuries.
Their message is “It doesn’t matter if you’re running a marathon, playing footy or netball, walking around the block or running after the kids, your feet need to be comfortable – that’s why we’re here.”
They offer a wide range of services including:
♦ Orthotics/arch supports (custom made and prefabricated)
♦ Management of heel pain / Plantar Fasciitis
♦ Nail surgery for ingrown toenails
♦ Diabetic foot care and assessment
♦ General foot care
♦ Sports podiatry
♦ Management of children’s foot problems
♦ Removal of corns
Source: www.podiumpodiatry.com.au
Stuart spoke of the need for regular assessments of foot health and maintenance as many very serious consequences can come from a lack of attention as they emerge. Diabetics in particularly, are especially prone to various serious complications such as infections and injury, which could result in ulcers, gangrene and subsequently amputations.
A service that Podium also provide is shoe sales and orthotics that can be especially fitted as corrective foot wear for all types of treatable foot problems.
Stuart said The Podium Group were prepared to work with the most difficult cases and had a very good relationship and referral procedure with allied health care organisations.
As with most health care, early detection and treatment will always lead to the best outcomes and this can be particularly so with children. Stuart recommends that any unusual feature, gait or soreness should be investigated and remediated to prevent more trouble later in life, not just in the feet but also in leg and hip joints.
Chairman Max thanked Stuart for a very informative talk and spoke of his very satisfactory attendance at the Drouin Clinic, President David echoed the thanks for the valuable and instructive talk on foot care and health.