Deborah Marshall and Lucie Jones have set out to cater for gaps in the market left by scaled down NHS services
Deborah Marshall (left) and Lucie Jones.(Image: Foot Health and Wellness Clinic)
Two healthcare specialists who decided to start their own clinic in Beverley say the business has taken off only months after its launch. Deborah Marshall and Lucie Jones had been delivering mobile treatments to customers in their own homes over several years.
Now, having refitted their St Mary’s Court, North Bar Within premises, the pair have set up Foot Health and Wellness Clinic Ltd with three treatment rooms. As well as ingrown toenail treatment, verruca treatment and “skin resets” for feet, the clinic offers wellness injections such as vitamin B12, biotin for healthy hair, skin and nails, vitamin D and NAD+ injections and IV infusions.
“We’re sort of picking up where the doctors don’t anymore with ear wax removal, vitamin B12 injections and wellness treatments. We also specialise in wellness for feet including diabetic foot care,” explained Deborah, who is from Beverley.
“The doctors’ did used to do it and the need hasn’t gone away, just the services have.”
Deborah, 53, says the clinic is already very busy and has even picked up a Yorkshire Prestige Award for New Foothealth Clinic of the Year, 2026-2027. The business has already earned a number of five star reviews, with secret shoppers also thought to have visited the premises inside the town’s shopping arcade.
“They just basically said we’ve nailed it and we’re doing brilliantly. And we’ve got a friendly and clean environment – it’s not like walking into a clinical surgery, we’ve got a bit of music playing and we’re really approachable and friendly,” added Deborah.
Having renovated their unit, Deborah and Lucie – who are both qualified practitioners – have invested a considerable amount in equipment. They have also received business support from Invest East Yorkshire, including signposting to available grants and loans.
Deborah explained: “Rather than going feet first into the business we wanted to take some advice from someone who knows.”
“I made an appointment with a business advisor there called Richard and over the course of a couple of months we discussed different plans and how we should approach the business. We also looked at grants and loans we could apply for.
“After we won the award, I reached out to him to tell him where we had got to and he was over the moon. Richard came down to take a look at the clinic and we talked about projections, and I showed him figures.
“He thought it was absolutely phenomenal how well we were doing.”
Now, Deborah and Lucie want to encourage other would-be entrepreneurs to take the leap having been buoyed by their own experience. Foot Health & Wellness Clinic is currently open Tuesday to Saturday, and is also home to nail technician Ance Belova.
“It’s been really, really hard work – I’ve been working six days a week for many months. But I feel like if you go for something, it really does pay off,” said Deborah.
“It’s the nice little comments that you get – which you don’t look for – that make you feel like you’re doing a good job and a job worthwhile.”
Did you know you can make Hull Live a preferred source of Hull news in Google, which will mean you get more of our breaking news, exclusives, and must-read stories straight away? Here’s more information about what this means and how to do it – you can also do it straight away by clicking here.