Robert Field

BA (Hons), PG Dip, BSc (Hons)

Community Health Services, Dorset HealthCare NHS University Foundation Trust

Robert Field is a Podiatrist working predominantly within the National Health Service. Qualifying from Chelsea School of Chiropody (Podiatry) in 1986, he worked in Buckinghamshire until 1999. It was while working at Stoke Mandeville Hospital in Aylesbury that he was introduced by an Occupational Therapist to Rheumatology. This interest developed with him specialising in podiatric rheumatology. In 1999 Robert moved to the edge of the New Forest and started working within local NHS services and private practice.

He is clinical lead for Podiatric services in rheumatology, lower limb biomechanics and falls prevention covering the East Dorset area. Working  within two Rheumatology Teams, most of his clinical time is with people who have an inflammatory arthritis, and most often this is Rheumatoid Arthritis. Two days a month, he works for a neighboring healthcare trust at a spinal injuries centre. He is a visiting Lecturer at University of Southampton School of Health Professionals. Robert is also involved with national organisations.

He is a former committee member of the British Health Professions in Rheumatology and continues to represent podiatry at that forum. He is also podiatry representative to Arthritis and Musculo-skeletal Alliance. He currently chairs for the Podiatry interest group within Rheumatology,(The Podiatry Rheumatic Care Association), and has contributed to a number podiatry’s submissions to national documents including the 'ARMA Standards of Care for Inflammatory Arthritis', 'NSF on Falls prevention', 'Standards of Care for Musculo-skeletal foot health problems' (2009) and NICE Guidelines for the Management of rheumatoid arthritis (2009).