Thousands of elderly people in Bristol live with daily pain and discomfort because of problems getting proper foot care, according to a survey of pensioners.

Bristol Older People's Forum spoke to nearly 900 OAPs and discovered widespread neglect of foot care, with some even using razor blades to cut out their own corns.

It said foot pain prevented many people from going out, effectively cutting them off from friends, shopping and essential services.

A call is now being made for an assessment of chiropody services to improve the health and wellbeing of the elderly.

With foot care for the elderly a casualty of NHS spending cuts, it was harder for older people to qualify for basic foot care services such as check-ups, toenail cutting and medication for bunions, corns and blisters.

The survey, carried out by the forum with support from Age Concern Bristol, Quartet Community Foundation and Age Concern England, showed seven out of 10 pensioners in Bristol had foot problems, rising to more than 80 per cent of those over 80.

More than half of pensioners who receive professional foot care services have to pay for it.

Peter Taplin, chairman of the forum, said: "Without any consultation or debate, foot care has been withdrawn as a free NHS service from even larger numbers of older people.

"We believe basic foot care services for older people should be free and that they should be able to refer themselves and not have to wait until the problem is so serious they have to go to the doctor.

"We have heard horror stories of older people trapped in their homes kicking walls until their nails break and using razor blades to remove their own corns."

Diane McCarthy, of Age Concern Bristol, said the last 10 years has seen an increasing rationing of NHS podiatry services.

"We know that many parts of the NHS have reduced their expenditure on foot care services and have developed restrictive eligibility criteria so only people with acute problems can get access.

"Primary care trusts and local councils must undertake a comprehensive assessment of local foot health needs and must act to ensure services are commissioned to meet the needs of older people."

State registered chiropodist and podiatrist Sally Varney, of Alexander House in Redland, said: "It really is not advisable to self-treat as it can lead to other problems such as ulceration and pain.

"Getting a relative to cut an older person's toenails if they can't cut their own may be all that's needed. But if people have a foot problem, they really do need to seek the services of a registered podiatrist, even if it's just to get some advice."

A visit to a private practitioner costs on average £25-£30, she said.

Julie Hendry, spokeswoman for Bristol Primary Care Trust, said it was working to improve podiatry services locally for older people, prioritising services for those people with medical problems such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and vascular problems.

She said: "People are able to refer themselves to the service without seeing a GP and forms are available via GP surgeries – the service then prioritises the request to deal with the most urgent first."

She said preventative care was taken seriously so minor problems do not get worse and a leaflet had been produced on keeping feet healthy.