The public petitions system has now closed ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections on 7 May 2026. It is not possible to submit a new petition to the Scottish Parliament or sign a petition until after the election.
The petitions system will reopen at the start of the new parliamentary session.
For more information about the petitions process, please contact the committee team at petitions.committee@parliament.scot.
For more information about the election campaign period and the dissolution of the current parliament, please visit the Scottish Parliament’s Election 2026 webpage: https://www.parliament.scot/msps/elections/election-2026
Closed petition PE2186: Review the Personal Footcare Guidance to ensure equity to access footcare services in rural and remote areas in Scotland.
Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to review the Personal Footcare Guidance to ensure equity of access to toenail cutting services in rural and remote areas of Scotland. Everyone should have access to healthcare, including footcare services, no matter where they live. To deny people access leaves them vulnerable to infection, less mobile and more at risk of falling. The Personal Footcare Guidance fails to consider mitigations to ensure equity of access to toenail cutting services.
Background information
The Personal Footcare Guidance outlines who can carry out personal footcare, including clipping and filing toenails, based on a risk assessment. This includes the person, their family, friends or carers. Even if you are entitled to personal care, you can wait months to be assessed. Some carers do not always cut toenails or are not trained, and paying a podiatrist can cost over £40. You also may not be able to get a carer due to where you live.
Lack of this vital service detrimentally impacts on people’s mobility and they are more likely to suffer a serious fall. They are also more vulnerable to cuts on their feet due to inappropriate toenail cutting, leading to increased risk of infection, sepsis or even gangrene. This can lead to longer hospital stays, impacting on people’s independence and quality of life while they wait for a personal care plan before discharge.
This petition was considered by the Scottish Parliament
84 signatures