“I would not hesitate to recommend Matthew Cichero. As soon as I met him, I knew he was the right man for the job. He explained exactly what my problem was with my feet and within a few weeks he operated on my feet at the Ridgeway hospital. The underlying pain has totally gone and I am on the road to recovery. His anaesthetist and his excellent team were just wonderful and his choice of music in the operating theatre wasn’t bad either! He is top of his field and I couldn’t recommend him more highly.”
— William B
“Please can you pass on my sincere thank-you to Mr Cichero for the magic of surgery on my right foot.
In between working from home, I have undertaken a project with my partner and we have built our own climbing/bouldering wall.
I have a long way to go yet, and I am careful not to push myself, but wanted to share my unadulterated joy of being able to do this once more.”
— Laura S
“Just wondered if you would be good enough to let Mr. Cichero know that I am finally running again – my first 5k in about 5 years. The orthotics have definitely been a godsend! ”
— Sarah N
“Just a note to thank you for all your help dealing with my foot surgery which has gone extremely well, I am really benefitting from it.
Thank Mr. Cichero for both my operations and his care and kindness. I am so pleased to be able to walk without pain and the outcome of my new feet are amazing. I cannot wait to show them off without embarrassment at the beach or by the pool.”
— Jackie M
“Mr. Cichero took the time to understand my symptoms and carried out a comprehensive assessment. He was very knowledgable about my condition (Charcot Marie Tooth disease) and the complications that can arise from it. The bespoke orthotics he provided have significantly improved my pain symptoms and I feel very confident about Mr. Cichero’s skills in managing future foot and ankle problems arising from my condition. I was seen quickly in clinic at a time that was convenient to me and the whole experience, from referral to follow-up, was very positive. I would not hesitate to recommend Mr. Cichero’s services.”
— Dr. Frances C
“I have a rare and unusual neurological condition that affects my hands and feet. It’s called Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) syndrome. The nerves that control the big toe don’t work and it means that I have very poor balance – keep falling over! It’s a progressive condition and gets worse as I get older. For years and years neurologists told me there is nothing that can be done. But I met up with Matthew Cichero who had other ideas. He knew all about CMT and had treated people with the condition before. Matthew took plaster casts of my feet and ordered from America a pair of special Ritchie braces which give me the support I need, especially when walking on rough ground. Matthew handles things very well and gave me lots of good advice about my walking. He is a lovely person to meet with and consultations are always a pleasurable experience. I can recommend him very highly.”
— Prof. Stephen W, Corsham, Wiltshire
“I suffered from arthritis in my big toe joint for years, which caused me pain on a daily basis. It affected my daily life and the shoes I could wear. I love pretty shoes and had to buy one with as flat a footbed as possible. By the end of the evening on holiday my foot would be so swollen and I had to take off my shoes.
This continued for years when I’d finally had enough in 2016. After seeing a podiatrist I was refered to Mr. Cichero on the NHS.
Following 2 injection of steroids over 6 months Mr. Cichero informed me that he could solve my arthritis pain/problem with an operation that would see me out of everyday pain and back in pretty shoes within months.
But unfortunately the operation wasn’t available on the NHS. So after months of saving in October 2017 Mr. Cichero preformed the operation where he shaved off a piece of extra bone that had also grown, he cleaned out the actual joint and put in an implant as I had lost the cartridge in the joint.
I found Mr. Cichero a very charming and kind professional, along with Kelli Cichero, Mr. Cichero’s medical secretary who was always at the end of her mobile phone whenever I needed advice and help.
I was in a lot of pain the following day, so I called Kelli. Kelli arranged through Mr. Cichero to get a prescription to my doctors, and within hours of my call my husband was picking up the prescription. Mr. Cichero informed me that the pain would subside within days, which it did.
I am now out of pain in my foot and my knee - which was being caused by the way I had started walking due to the arthritis. It was well worth on cost and I would do it again should I need it.
I can’t speak too highly of Mr. and Mrs. Cichero and would recommended them to anybody who had any issues with their feet and would benefit from the help Mr. Cichero could offer. ”
— Simone B
“Please accept my very grateful thanks for the excellent work you have done. I can now walk two miles without pain, and look forward to increased activity in the near future.”
— Keith T
“I must say the whole experience with dealing with you both has been a fantastic experience from start to finish.”
— Caroline R
“Because of painful arthritis and foot deformity, I lost the ability to walk cross country courses so could no longer help my equestrian students. After four successful corrective operations I am now able to do everything I could do 20 years ago and am virtually pain free thanks to Mr Yates. I cannot recommend him more highly.”
— Jane Holderness-Roddam - Olympic Equestrian Team Gold Medallist
“I can thoroughly recommend the podiatry services of Mr. Yates at the BMI Ridgeway hospital. All aspects of my procedure, from the initial consultation through to the post-operative after care, was dealt with a high level of professionalism and efficiency. I felt fully informed of everything I needed to know. My surgery has enabled me to walk pain-free after years of increasing pain. I wouldn’t hesitate to use this practice again if I needed to.”
— Ruth T
“Mr Ben Yates was my consultant and surgeon for my recent left foot bunion removal and surgery on two toes. I had very prompt and reassuring pre op consultations followed by surgery on April 27th 2015. After an overnight stay in hospital,which was my choice, I went home and had no pain whatsoever from my foot. Advice was given over exercise and rest. there was some swelling,but as predicted this went over the next eight weeks. Follow up consultations were always on time and I was received with courtesy and helpful advice on each occasion . I had the bunion from childhood and I am absolutely delighted to see the foot looking so straight and normal. Thank you.”
— Catherine D
“I recently had surgery on my foot to straighten my toes and remove bunions at the Ridgeway hospital by Mr Ben Yates. I was admitted at 12.30 pm and had my surgery and was back home by 8.00pm. The treatment has been a great success and after months of pain I am now walking well and my shoes fit properly just 8 weeks later. I wish I had had it done earlier.”
— Therese M
“Mr. Yates explains everything in a very comprehensive yet easy to understand way. Any questions I had were answered fully and I was put at ease from the first consultation, through the operation and the follow up appointments.”
— Pamela White
“After suffering continuous foot pain for 18 months I was referred to Mr Ben Yates at Ridgeway Hospital. From the initial appointment through to the last appointment I was treated with respect and dignity. The whole process was fully explained all questions answered and re-assurance given every step of the way. After surgery on both feet I am now pain free and I so wish I had contacted Mr Yates sooner. I can thoroughly recommend Mr Ben Yates and his team.”
— Joan B
“In September last year I was referred to Mr. Yates following problems with a torn tendon in my left leg and severe hammer toes on both feet which necessitated two operations, one on each foot. From my first visit following x rays and an MRI scan he arranged the first operation, and from that time to the final follow up after my second operation in March I found Mr. Yates to be very reassuring and professional. I have been very pleased with the results achieved.”
— Penny B
“Please pass on my thanks to Mr Yates. After suffering for over a year with intense plantar fasciitis, no end of physiotherapy and stretching, the three sessions of shockwave therapy I had this autumn have eliminated my symptoms.
I have no idea how it worked but I am very grateful to be free of the constant pain that i had experienced for the previous 14 months.”
— MB
“I’m pleased to say that since the operation on my foot I have retained my range of movement, and am able to resume my walking and Scottish dancing hobbies, thanks to Mr Yates and my implant.”
— Jenny N
“I highly recommend Mr Yates for his surgical skill and compassion. I was a club foot baby and years later problems ensued. Flat foot led to arthritis, other complications and ongoing pain. This impacted me greatly with 2 young boys and a full time job where I was on my feet. After 4 operations my quality of life has improved greatly. In Lockdown I have been enjoying long walks, something I could not have achieved in the past.
Thank you Mr Yates , toes crossed I won’t have to see you again. But if I do, I will not hesitate to get in touch as you have helped me so much.”
— Heather R
“I was more than apprehensive about having foot surgery. Mr Yates immediately put me at ease. Fully explaining the procedure.
The whole process was smooth and uncomplicated. His attention to detail and patient care is second to none. Could not recommend him more highly.”
— Jan H
“Years of pain and inability to wear smart shoes are over after Mr Ben Yates operated to remove a bunion from my right foot and straighten the adjoining toes. I may have ‘half the contents of Mr Yates’ toolbox’ in my three toes, but the satisfaction of being able to freely and comfortably walk again in smart shoes is indescribable.
Mr Yates’ skill and the Ridgeway’s care and attention was second to none.”
— Merrick F
“Having experienced years of pain in both of my feet due to bone alignment (Bunions) I decided early in 2021 to have them looked at with a possibility of plumping for surgery to correct something I had been suffering with for years.
Visited with Mr Yates early in the year, he was very positive and advised that he would be able to realign the bones and as a result hopefully reduce the pain and the look of my feet.
I have nothing but praise for the whole process, fully informed and procedures explained. Mr Yates is extremely professional and a very personable consultant, who I would readily recommend.
I am now pain free, have barely visible scars and my feet look fabulous! ”
