Patients with foot problems in north Kent are competing for an appointment with a potential half a million others under a different NHS trust.

Residents in Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley, whose health needs normally fall under the responsibility of NHS West Kent, are seen by neighbouring trust NHS Medway when it comes to corns, in-growing toenails or fungal problems.

The trust, which already provides the podiatry service for Medway's 270,000 residents, is also commissioned by NHS West Kent to look after its own potential 200,000 patients in Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley.

The trust also stretches to a further 123,000 people in Swale, bringing the total footprint to 600,000.

The trust says it is not being rushed off its feet by appointments and is committed to seeing patients with non-urgent problems within four months.

But one patient in Swanley disputes this target and says he has been waiting more than six months for someone to take a look at an infection on his toe.

John Pearson says he first went to see his GP in September last year, but more than 200 days later, he is still fighting for an appointment.

He said: "Why are we under Medway when we live 20 miles from there? It seems wrong."

A spokesman for NHS Medway acknowledged Mr Pearson had had a long wait for an appointment and said another one was being offered to him.

She added: "At the beginning of February there was a high number of staff off sick so the waiting time did jump up, but that's now gone down again."

What are your experiences of the podiatry service?

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