Your Safety Starts Long Before Your Appointment
Most patients never see what happens behind the scenes in a podiatry clinic.
They arrive for treatment, sit comfortably in the chair and receive the care they need. What many don't realise is that every appointment is supported by a series of clinical processes designed to keep patients safe and maintain the highest standards of hygiene.
At Solecare Podiatry, every instrument used during treatment undergoes a rigorous reprocessing cycle before it can be used again. This includes cleaning, inspection, ultrasonic processing, packaging, sterilisation, and traceability checks.
The result is the sterile instrument pack opened specifically for you at the start of your appointment.
These processes aren't glamorous, and most patients never think about them. Yet they are a fundamental part of modern healthcare and play an important role in reducing the risk of infection and cross-contamination.
We believe patients deserve to understand the standards behind their care. That's why we've created this page: to provide a glimpse behind the curtain and show the systems, equipment, and professional standards that support every treatment we provide.
Because when it comes to healthcare, the things you don't see are often just as important as the things you do.
They arrive for treatment, sit comfortably in the chair and receive the care they need. What many don't realise is that every appointment is supported by a series of clinical processes designed to keep patients safe and maintain the highest standards of hygiene.
At Solecare Podiatry, every instrument used during treatment undergoes a rigorous reprocessing cycle before it can be used again. This includes cleaning, inspection, ultrasonic processing, packaging, sterilisation, and traceability checks.
The result is the sterile instrument pack opened specifically for you at the start of your appointment.
These processes aren't glamorous, and most patients never think about them. Yet they are a fundamental part of modern healthcare and play an important role in reducing the risk of infection and cross-contamination.
We believe patients deserve to understand the standards behind their care. That's why we've created this page: to provide a glimpse behind the curtain and show the systems, equipment, and professional standards that support every treatment we provide.
Because when it comes to healthcare, the things you don't see are often just as important as the things you do.
Sterilisation of instruments isn't just a nice to have or a choice. Any professional service that attends to toe nails or deals with removing hard skin or corns, needs to have the standard at the heart of their thinking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are podiatry instruments sterilised?
Many podiatry instruments come into contact with skin, nails and, in some cases, soft tissue. Sterilisation helps eliminate bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms that could potentially be transferred between patients. It is a fundamental part of safe healthcare and helps minimise the risk of infection and cross-contamination..
What is the difference between disinfection and sterilisation?
Disinfection reduces the number of microorganisms on an instrument, but it does not eliminate all microbial life.
Sterilisation is a higher standard. It is a validated process designed to destroy microorganisms, including bacterial spores. For many reusable medical instruments, sterilisation is the accepted standard before they are used again.
At Solecare Podiatry, instruments undergo cleaning, inspection, packaging and vacuum autoclave sterilisation before being returned to service.
Sterilisation is a higher standard. It is a validated process designed to destroy microorganisms, including bacterial spores. For many reusable medical instruments, sterilisation is the accepted standard before they are used again.
At Solecare Podiatry, instruments undergo cleaning, inspection, packaging and vacuum autoclave sterilisation before being returned to service.
Should a sterile instrument pack be opened in front of me?
Yes. A sterile instrument pack should remain sealed until it is needed for treatment and should be opened at the start of your appointment. This allows patients to see that the instruments have completed the sterilisation process and have remained protected until use.
Many patients have never thought about this before, but it is a normal part of modern healthcare practice.
Many patients have never thought about this before, but it is a normal part of modern healthcare practice.
What is AS/NZS 5369:2023?
AS/NZS 5369:2023 is the Australian and New Zealand Standard for the reprocessing of reusable medical devices and other devices used in healthcare.
The standard provides guidance on cleaning, inspection, packaging, sterilisation, storage, traceability and quality assurance. Its purpose is to help ensure reusable instruments are safe, effective and ready for patient use.
At Solecare Podiatry, our instrument reprocessing procedures are designed to align with the principles and requirements set out in this standard.
The standard provides guidance on cleaning, inspection, packaging, sterilisation, storage, traceability and quality assurance. Its purpose is to help ensure reusable instruments are safe, effective and ready for patient use.
At Solecare Podiatry, our instrument reprocessing procedures are designed to align with the principles and requirements set out in this standard.
Are podiatrists required to follow infection control standards?
Yes. Registered podiatrists are expected to follow recognised infection prevention and control standards as part of providing safe patient care. These standards help protect patients, practitioners and the wider community. Additionally, they should be followed by anyone providing paid foot care in New Zealand.
Infection control is not an optional extra. It is a core component of modern healthcare and underpins every treatment provided at Solecare Podiatry.
Infection control is not an optional extra. It is a core component of modern healthcare and underpins every treatment provided at Solecare Podiatry.
Why does Solecare place so much emphasis on hygiene?
Because patient safety comes first.
The treatment itself is only one part of quality healthcare. The systems behind the scenes—including cleaning, sterilisation, traceability, staff training and professional standards—are equally important. Most patients never see these processes, but they are essential to delivering safe, professional podiatry care every day.
The treatment itself is only one part of quality healthcare. The systems behind the scenes—including cleaning, sterilisation, traceability, staff training and professional standards—are equally important. Most patients never see these processes, but they are essential to delivering safe, professional podiatry care every day.