Podiatry and General Practice: The Joint Role of Meeting Client Needs

Abstract

The general practitioner (GP) plays an important role in an individual's understanding of her/his health needs and the ways in which a particular health professional will meet those needs (COAG, 1995; Davis & George, 1993). If awareness by the GP of another profession's role is limited, the consumer may feel disempowered by a system which does not provide the expected service (COAG, 1995). Choice and direction of intervention will remain limited by the GP's lack of knowledge of the profession, and as such, the individual's needs might not be met.