About this site

DISCLAIMER

www.thefootandankleclinic.com (the "Site") is provided by Foot & Ankle Clinic Limited whose registered number at UK Companies House is 05230808 and whose registered address is Sandison Easson and Co, Rex Buildings, Wilmslow, Cheshire SK9 1HY (the "Clinic").

1 Introduction
1.1 Please read these terms and conditions (the "Conditions") carefully before you start to use the Site. By using the Site, you indicate that you accept these Conditions and that you agree to abide by them. If you do not agree to these Conditions, please do not access or use the Site.

1.2 In these Conditions any use of the words "you", "your" or similar expressions shall mean any user of the Site whatsoever. The words "we", "us", "our" or similar expressions shall mean the Clinic.

2 Use of Content
2.1 You may download or print off copies of the materials, resources and information included on the Site ("Content") for your personal use and information provided that you retain any copyright or other intellectual property notices contained in the original material.

2.2 You must not modify the paper or digital copies of the Content you have printed off or downloaded in any way, and you must not use any illustrations, photographs, video or audio sequences or any graphics separately from any accompanying text.

2.3 You may not copy, distribute or display the Site or any part of it to third parties. Any infringement of any intellectual property rights in this manner may result in appropriate legal action being taken against you.

2.4 The copyright, trade marks, domain names and other intellectual property rights in the Content belong to us or our third party licensors. All rights are reserved. Our name may not be used in any way, including in advertising or publicity pertaining to distribution of materials on this Site, without our prior written permission.

3 Modification of these Conditions
3.1 We are continually seeking to update and improve the Site. Therefore we may make changes to any part of the Site and these Conditions so you should check this page from time to time to take notice of any changes we make as you will be bound by changes to these Conditions from the time you next access the Site.

4 Links to Third Party Sites
4.1 Where our Site contains links to other sites and resources provided by third parties, these links are provided for your information only. We therefore make no representation or warranty as to their content. We exclude all liability for any third party material and resources made available on the Site or contained on any third party website that it links to.

4.2 No links are permitted to the Site without our express consent in writing.

5 Privacy
5.1 All personal data you submit to us will be held in accordance with our responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 1998. As a consequence, we will not disclose to any third party any such data other than as required as a matter of law.

5.2 We will ordinarily use personal data which you supply only for the purpose of sending to you information which you request or otherwise responding to you. We then destroy the information reasonably soon thereafter. We also use and disclose general data regarding your use of the Site (which does not identify you as an individual) but we do not pass on any personal details or personally identifiable information without your consent.

5.3 Data stored on the Site will be stored in a secure manner and we shall use reasonable endeavours to ensure that any such data cannot be accessed by unauthorised third parties.

5.4 We also use cookies which are alphanumeric identifiers that are stored by our web browser on your computer's hard-drive that enable our system to recognise you when you visit the Site. These help us to enhance your experience of using the Site. Most web browsers automatically accept cookies but you can disable this function by changing your browser settings if you so wish.

6 Disclaimer
6.1 We do not warrant that use of the Site will be uninterrupted or error free or that it will be continuously available. The Site and all Content are provided on an "as is" basis.

6.2 Although we have used all reasonable skill and care in compiling this Site we cannot guarantee the accuracy, functionality or fitness for purpose of this Site and are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

6.3 You should not rely on the Content of this Site as a substitute for professional medical advice, medical diagnosis or treatment. We are not responsible for any reliance you, or anyone you may inform, may place on its Content.

7 Limitation of Liability
7.1 For all of our responsibilities not covered by Condition 7.2, we shall not be responsible for any loss or any damage resulting from temporary or permanent unavailability of the Site, any websites linked to the Site, any changes to the Site or from any corruption or loss of data you may suffer whilst using the Site.

7.2 We shall be liable for death or personal injury arising from our negligence, or if we have deliberately lied to you about anything which then caused you to agree to these Conditions. Nothing in these Conditions shall exclude that liability. Nothing in these Conditions shall affect your statutory rights.

7.3 For all responsibilities not covered by Condition 7.2, we will not be responsible for any loss that could not have been expected to occur in advance of the loss occurring, or that is not directly related to the main loss, or any loss of any opportunity by you (including an opportunity for you or someone else to make, save or use money).

8 Termination/Access Restriction
8.1 We reserve the right, in our sole discretion, to terminate or restrict your access to any portion of the Site at any time, without notice. We reserve the right to withdraw any password and user name immediately if, at any time, we believe you are in breach of these Conditions.

9 Treatment and Relationship with Specialists
9.1 If you decide to have medical treatment then we can help you with this by putting you in touch with specialists for whom we act as agent (assisting them with marketing, introducing them to patients and assisting them with administration). The specialists are not our employees and we do not take responsibility for their actions. If you have treatment with one of the specialists then you will enter into a separate contract with the specialist which will set out their responsibilities for your treatment and who you need to contact if you have any issues relating to your treatment.

10 General
10.1 Failure by either of us to exercise any right or remedy under these Conditions does not constitute a waiver of that right or remedy.

10.2 If at any time any provision of these Conditions becomes void or unenforceable, then that provision shall be removed from these Conditions for so long as it remains void or unenforceable, but the remaining provisions of these Conditions shall not in any way be affected or impaired as a result of that removal.

11 Choice of Law and Jurisdiction
11.1 Any dispute or claim that either of us bring in relation to or in connection with these Conditions will be decided on the basis of English law by the English courts alone.

11.2 The Content on this Site is directed solely at those who access the Site from the United Kingdom mainland. If you choose to access the Site from other locations, you are responsible for compliance with local laws if and to the extent local laws are applicable.

12 Your Concerns
12.1 If you have any concerns about the Content of our Site, please contact Mr Mark Herron.

FOR PATIENTS

Background
This website has been primarily designed for patients in the United Kingdom as an educational aid. With a structure as complex as the human body it cannot act as an accurate self diagnostic tool and is not intended as such. The website is not  intended as an aid to self-treatment. The information will allow you at leisure and with terms you can understand to learn about your condition and the treatments available. As a result we hope that you are able to play a more active role in the decisions to be made about management of your condition with your Clinician. The views expressed are our own and the treatments and rehabilitation programmes correspond to our practise at the Clinic. All the treatments described are available through the Clinic. Most of the managements and operations are well established, tried and tested. There are a few exceptions to this and these as well as the reasons for less established options being available are explained.

Explaining the conditions/treatments
To understand the disorders of the foot and ankle and the reason behind the treatments used it is necessary to know a little of the anatomy and function of the area. Most of this is best appreciated visually and this is to be found in the section "Anatomy of the foot and ankle".
Surgery is just one element of what we do, the others being orthotic and physiotherapy management. We are keen that none of these are seen as a 'black box'. The website allows you to understand in clear terms the disorders and their solutions.

Operative footage
This website also allows you to view stills and live footage of the operations. The stills give an idea of what to expect. If this is not for you do not go on to down load the live footage. It is there for those of you who are interested. Line diagrams of the operations are alternatively available, giving a less graphic visual explanation of the procedures. This may also not be for you, and is not 'required reading' in which case we suggest you stick to the question and answer sections.

Decision making
Where relevant the success and complication rates of procedures are quoted. These are generally accepted figures for the procedures. Whether you have been informed about complications, they can occur. It is difficult to make a reasoned decision about a treatment without having an idea of the chance of success and what this is likely to mean to you. However this is really just the starting point and in individual cases details may differ significantly. Your Clinician will be able to advise.
We have also detailed our post-operative routines and expected recovery times. This should help in planning whether and when surgery may be right for you. As we have said already decision making about operative treatment is multifaceted, the information here should help inform your discussions with your Clinician.

How to use the site
You can simply go to the section of interest, no knowledge assumed. Key medical terms are explained in the glossary section. If you have the time we also suggest a few minutes on the anatomy guide and background section first, referring back as you need.

FOR CLINICIANS

Elements of this site will be of use to the Clinician, as a general overview, with details of newer procedures, or as a source for protocols or digital images. Please use the information freely for educational purposes and credit the source.

Contact us
The website is under constant development, with new sections and footage being continually added. We are grateful for any feedback on what there is or what you would like to see. Email us with any feedback.

We regret that we are unable to offer specific medical advice over the internet.
For patients wishing to attend clinic at the Priory Hospital contact the direct helpline on 0121-4461674 or via the Priory main switchboard 0121-4402323. Sutton Coldfield patients can now be seen locally in Clinic at the Ashfurlong Medical Centre.