Mr. Matthew Cichero and Mr. Ben Yates are two of the leading Consultant Podiatric Surgeons in the UK specialising in foot surgery. They have over 50 years of combined experience working nationally and internationally both in the NHS and private practice, with specific expertise in all elements of elective foot surgery and limb preservation surgery with patients who have diabetes.
The specific aim is to fill a gap in the provision of foot and ankle care to all patients in the South West of England. We are able to tailor patient care from conservative management, including injection therapy and interventional surgical care. Integrity and a personalised service is important to us; ensuring patients feel cared for, empowered and knowledgeable about what their problems and solutions are, is a core belief of our entire team.
"A surgeon should have an eagle’s eye, a lady’s hands and a lion’s heart”.
- Sir Astley Cooper
What is a Podiatric Surgeon?
Podiatrists are practitioners of the foot and ankle. They are like dentists to the teeth. Podiatric surgery is a specialist field of practice within podiatry.
Podiatric Surgeons are podiatrists who undertake extensive postgraduate training in the surgical management of foot and ankle problems.
They have a formal education in foot health and medical sciences and are trained to recognise the signs and symptoms of general medical conditions within the lower limb e.g. diabetes. Your consultant will be able to treat the foot and ankle symptoms of these conditions, but will liaise with your GP for a formal medical opinion or assistance if required.
In addition to surgical care, Podiatric Surgeons will advise you about the non-surgical treatments for your foot problem. This will help you make an informed choice regarding your treatment and agree to a care plan together.
Podiatric Surgeons are independent clinicians in the field of foot surgery and are not medical doctors.
Surgical Training
PODIATRIST
3-4 Year University Degree in Podiatric Medicine
SPECIALIST PODIATRIST
2-3 Year MSc in the Theory of Podiatric Surgery
PODIATRIC SURGICAL TRAINEE
3 Year Consultant Supervised Training
Final surgical examinations
SPECIALIST REGISTRAR IN PODIATRIC SURGERY
2-3 Years Specialist Training to consolidate surgical skills
PODIATRIC SURGEON
Can apply for a Consultant Post as a lead clinician
A minimum of 11 years Specialist Training
Must be registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Audit
Podiatric surgery is a proven and effective part of foot health care, with thousands of foot operations undertaken in the UK by Podiatric Surgeons every year.
South West Foot Surgery collects information for audit purposes in order to review performance, show evidence of practice and assess patient outcomes and experiences. Ask your consultant about the national audit database PASCOM-10.
Professional Regulation
Podiatrists are regulated by the Health and Care Professions Council, who set standards for registrants’ education and training, professional skills and behaviour.
Questions and Concerns
If you have any questions or concerns about the treatment you receive, your consultant will be happy to discuss this further with you or help arrange a second opinion.
Service Overview
Foot and Ankle Surgery
Mr. Cichero can provide current surgical and conservative treatment options in conditions ranging from bunions, and toe corrections through to midfoot post-traumatic arthritis surgery, fractures, and sports injury surgery such as ankle instability. Find out more >>
Gait Analysis & Biomechanics
Undertaking a gait analysis, and then a biomechanical assessment can help uncover whether the structure or function of the lower leg is causing the specific problem in the foot or lower leg. Find out more >>
Orthotics
Orthotics are devices that go into shoes to help aid or resolve foot and lower leg injuries. They can help prevent surgery, or be used in conjunction with surgery to the foot. Find out more >>
Sports Injuries
Mr. Cichero's experience in managing many types of foot and ankle injuries related to sport will help you get back to the sports you like doing most. Find out more >>
Diabetes
Mr. Cichero specialises in diabetic foot complications and surgery. He can provide an assessment of your feet, their risk to developing complications and strategies to help prevent complications such as ulcers and amputations. Find out more >>
Shockwave Therapy/PRP Injections
Extracorporeal shockwave therapy (ESWT) is a form of sound waves for the treatment of mainly soft tissue injuries such as fascia, ligaments and tendons. Find out more >>
Testimonials
"Mr. Yates explains everything in a very comprehensive yet easy to understand way. Any questions I had were answered fully and I was put at ease from the first consultation, through the operation and the follow up appointments. " Read more >>
— Pamela W.
"I would not hesitate to recommend Matthew Cichero. As soon as I met him, I knew he was the right man for the job..." Read more >>
— William B.
Rate Card
If you intend to claim your consultation fees from a medical insurance policy, please check that you are covered with your health insurance company and whether you require GP or specialist referral for this purpose. We are registered with most insurance companies, so please contact us if there are any problems.
