RELATIVES and carers of people who need foot care are being asked to carry out cosmetic tasks, such as nail clipping, to free up health professionals so they can focus on priority cases.

The Wyre Forest podiatry team is carrying out free courses to show how basic tasks can be carried out for some patients, enabling the specialists to deal with an increasing number of people most in need of their services.

"Nail cutting and nail filing for low risk patients is regarded as a social rather than a medical need and is something that can be carried out successfully by others," said Lorraine Haynes, team leader for podiatry at Wyre Forest Primary Care Trust.

"Training has been available for NHS and care staff for some time but now we're opening our doors on the training programme to relatives and carers.

"We are asking people to carry out simple tasks that we are confident people can achieve. It's also a great way for people to get involved and take responsibility over their treatment decisions."

Nationally, podiatry departments have seen a rise in the numbers of patients in high risk groups, the trust said. In the district, 3.6 per cent of the population is known to be prone to diabetes, according to the most recent figures contained in the Wyre Forest Public Health Report for 2006.

The Wyre Forest nail care training is designed to enable carers to carry out foot care safely and confidently.

Following the one and a half hour-long courses, participants will receive certificates of attendance and manuals with all the information explained during the sessions.

The Wyre Forest podiatry team is running clinics in Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley. Anyone interested can book a place on a training session by contacting the podiatry department at Kidderminster Health Centre on 01562 820091.