CASE STUDY
Business : Total Foot Health Location : Salisbury Founded : 2007 No of employees : 10
We used the ERDF grant to create a secure video to show patients how we are applying our protocols to keep them safe
Total Foot Health is an award-winning podiatry business based in the centre of Salisbury .
It is accredited by the College of Podiatry and offers a range of services including foot and nail care , biomechanics , sports injury and pre and post-op rehabilitation , sports performance and therapeutic podiatry .
Diversifying through COVID-19
During this time , we introduced virtual assessments in order to be able to advise patients on diagnosis , self-help treatment where applicable or directing them to attend our clinic for treatment where that was the most appropriate course of action . This was especially important during the first lockdown when we were only treating key workers and those with an urgent medical need .
To get started we had to first create a process for virtual assessment and get patients used to the idea . We also had to establish COVID-19 secure protocols in clinic to ensure the safety of patients and staff . We introduced a digitalised registration process to reduce time in reception and also reduce paper handling .
To improve understanding of our full patient offer we created a new website through lockdown which was enhanced by links to our social media marketing which we expanded in preparation for release from lockdown in June 2020 . The final part of that plan is the development of an online booking system which is set to go live soon .
Growth Hub support
We discovered the Growth Hub through a webinar session we found online . The feedback form at the end of the webinar captured our areas of need and the Growth Hub contacted us directly to discuss ways it could help . Since then , it has supported us in a number of ways . We have dipped into those most relevant training webinars for the development of Total Foot Health . The sales and marketing sessions by Alison Edgar MBE were especially helpful in shaping our marketing approach . We ’ ve also benefitted from the Peer Networks programme . Through the action learning approach we ’ ve further developed our thinking around an online booking system . Plus we continue to benefit from ongoing connection with the businesses within this group .
The Digital Leadership Course had a significant impact in helping us digitalise many processes and join systems together , creating greater efficiencies , saving costs and improving patient services .
On top of that we ’ ve received advice and support regarding available grants , successfully receiving an ERDF grant administered by the Growth Hub as well as the Additional Restrictions Grant .
Through our links with the Growth Hub , we have been able to develop a digitalisation development plan which will help improve services for patients and staff , and put us in a stronger place than before the pandemic .