Royal College of Podiatry

{{short description|Professional association for chiropodists and podiatrists in the UK}}

{{Multiple issues|

{{More citations needed|date=September 2022}}

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{{Infobox organization

|name = SCP / CoP

|mottoeng = Ease after care{{cite web | url=http://www.scpod.org/college-aims/the-colleges-coat-of-arms/ | title=The College's Coat of Arms | publisher=Society and College of Chiropodists and Podiatrists | accessdate=November 14, 2015}}

|location_country= United Kingdom

|affiliation = TUC,{{cite book |author1=John B. Smethurst |author2=Peter Carter | title=Historical directory of trade unions, Volume 6 | page=439}} PARN{{cite web | url=http://www.parnglobal.com/membership-and-services/our-members | title=Our Members - Membership | publisher=Professional Associations Research Network | accessdate=November 14, 2015}}

|members = {{decrease}} 9,112 (2021){{cite web | title=Annual Return for a Trade Union | website=gov.uk | url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1106472/574T_2021.pdf | access-date=26 July 2023}}

|full_name = College of Podiatry

|native_name =

|image = File:College of Podiatry, UK, Crest.png

|founded = 1945{{cite web | url=http://www.scpod.org/society/our-history/ | title=Our History | publisher=Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists | accessdate=November 14, 2015}}

|dissolved =

|merged =

|headquarters = Quartz House, 207 Providence Sq, Mill Street, London, England, United Kingdom

|key_people = Professor Jane McAdam, Chair
Queen Camilla Patron
, Chief Executive and General Secretary

Jane Pritchard,
Claire Angus, Membership Director

|website = [http://www.cop.org.uk]

|footnotes = 250px

}}

The Royal College of Podiatry (RCPod) is the professional association and trade union for registered chiropodists and podiatrists in the United Kingdom.

Previously known as Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists (SCP) it changed its name in 2018 to the College of Podiatry and in 2021 became the Royal College of Podiatry. The charitable subsidiary of the organisation is the College of Podiatry which was formed in 2012.{{cite web | url=http://www.scpod.org/society/ | title=Society | publisher=Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists | accessdate=November 14, 2015}}

The union originated in 1912 as the Society of Chiropodists, the first organisation of chiropodists in Europe.{{cite book |author1=Janet Foster |author2=Julia Sheppard |title=British archives: a guide to archive resources in the United Kingdom | page=384}} In 1916, it was renamed the Incorporated Society of Chiropodists, and in 1919, it established examinations for potential new members.{{cite book | author=Gerald Larkin | title=Occupational monopoly and modern medicine | page=128}} Several rival organisations emerged: the Northern Association of Chiropodists, the Chelsea Chiropodists Association and the British Association of Chiropodists. These merged with the Incorporated Society in 1945, the new body once more taking the name Society of Chiropodists. It was recognised as a negotiating body by the National Health Service in 1948, but did not register as a trade union until 1978. In 1993, it became the Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists, recognising the membership of podiatrists, and in 1997, it affiliated to the Trades Union Congress. In 1998, the Association of Chief Chiropody Officers and the Podiatry Association both merged with the society.{{cite web | url=http://www.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/ead/418col.htm | title=Society of Chiropodists and Podiatrists 1946-1996 | publisher=Modern Records Centre, University of Warwick}}

In 2021 The College of Podiatry has been renamed as the [https://cop.org.uk/ Royal College of Podiatry] (RCPod) after being granted permission to use the title by Her Majesty The Queen.