Cryotherapy & Verruca Management Policy

What's inside

This policy is fully drafted and structured, ready to brand and complete for your service. It covers:

• 1. Purpose
• 2. Scope
• 3. Policy statement
• 4. Definitions
• 5. Assessment before treatment
• 6. Treatment options offered here
• 7. Consent, expectations and cost
• 8. Cryogen and caustic handling
• 9. Aftercare and follow-up
• 10. Roles and responsibilities
• 11. Training and competence
• 12. Records, monitoring and audit
• 13. Version control and review
• 14. Common failure modes
• 15. Appendix A - Verruca assessment and course record
• 16. Appendix B - Session log
• 17. Related documents
• 18. Disclaimer

CQC fundamental standard

Legislation & standards it maps to

• Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 - in particular Regulation 9 (Person-centred care), Regulation 11 (Need for consent), Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment) and Regulation 17 (Good governance)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 (COSHH) - cryogens and caustic agents
• Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 2002, where liquid nitrogen is held
• Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 - claims made about treatment outcomes
• Human Medicines Regulations 2012 (as amended), where a caustic preparation is applied or supplied

Who it applies to

All podiatrists and clinical staff treating verrucae, reception staff who describe the service, and the clinical lead of [Organisation Name]

Glossary

Plain-English explanations of the technical terms and legislation used in this document.

Amelanotic melanoma

A skin cancer with little or no dark pigment, which can look like an ordinary lump or a verruca.

Caustic

A chemical that burns away tissue, such as salicylic acid or silver nitrate.

Cryogen

The very cold substance used to freeze a lesion, such as liquid nitrogen.

Cryotherapy

Freezing a lesion to destroy it.

Debride

To pare away the hard skin over a lesion so it can be seen and treated.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)

The virus that causes warts and verrucae.

Mosaic verruca

A patch of many small verrucae joined together, which is harder to treat.

Needling

A procedure done under local anaesthetic where the verruca is punctured repeatedly to prompt the immune system to attack it.

Pinpoint capillaries

Tiny dark dots inside a verruca, which are small clotted blood vessels.

Plantar

On the sole of the foot.

Self-limiting

Something that usually gets better on its own, given time.

Skin lines

The natural ridges of the skin. A verruca breaks them up; hard skin does not.

Watchful waiting

Deciding not to treat for now, and keeping an eye on it instead.

How it works

1. Buy securely with Stripe - instant, no VAT, no account needed.
2. Download your editable Word file from the link we email you straight away.
3. Complete the placeholders for your service, then have it approved before use.
4. Add the optional updates subscription and we keep it current as guidance changes.