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complete staff consists of the Chief Chiropodist, responsible for the overall organisation, one principal, six
senior, seven sessional and one contractual Chiropodist.
I he Chief Chiropodist organises the service at eight clinics, nine old people's residential homes, and one
convent, and in addition, arranges the transport and domiciliary service.
T he transfer of the Chiropody Clinic from St. Dunstan's School Treatment Centre to the purpose-built
clinic at Nye Bevan House, St. Thomas' Way, S. W.6., was welcomed by all. Whilst this does not necessarily
mean an increase in the number of patients seen, the district served has now got better facilities and an
improved service.
The Appliance Laboratory The opening of the Chiropody Appliance Laboratory, attached to the
Chiropody Clinic at 706 Fulham Road, S.W.6. in early 1970 has brought considerable advances in the long
term management of foot disorders. Its use has enhanced the comfort and mobility of many patients and has
enabled others to receive and enjoy more protracted treatment. This has resulted in more people having the
special treatment they need. At the Laboratory many patients suffering from rheumatic diseases are now fitted
with excellent insulating material insoles for their shoes, which prevent chilling and other harmful effects of
the damp and cold.
Platform-Soled Shoes On a topical note, the wearing of the new fashionable rigid platform shoes which do
not allow for the normal rocking movement of the foot during walking, is asking for trouble in the future.
Surely the service should be geared to prevent deformities all too frequently occurring in the young. Foot
Health Education and a School Chiropody Service would, undoubtedly, be an important step in the right
direction.

NURSING HOMES
Local Health Authorities have a duty to register and inspect Nursing Homes established in their areas, in
accordance with the provisions of the Public Health Act, 1936, the Nursing Homes Act, 1963 and Mental
Health Act, 1959.
There are no registered Mental Nursing Homes or Maternity Homes in the Borough, but two general
Nursing Homes are registered, one for 32 chronically sick patients and the other for 266 medical and surgical
patients. The latter has been approved by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Security, under the
Abortion Act, 1967 as a place for treatment for the termination of pregnancy.
MENTAL HEALTH ACT, 1959—APPROVAL OF MEDICAL
PRACTITIONERS
Section 28 of the Mental Health Act, 1959, provides that where an application is to be made for a person to
be detained in hospital (or received into guardianship) by reason of mental disorder, one of the two medical
practitioners making the necessary recommendations shall have been approved for this purpose by the Local
Health Authority as having special experience in the diagnosis or treatment of mental disorder. Although the
majority of local authority functions exercised under the Mental Health Act were assigned to Social Services
Committees in 1971 by the Local Authority Social Services Act, 1970, it remains the duty of the Council, as
Local Health Authority, to consider applications by medical practitioners seeking approval under Section 28
of the Act. In so doing, the Council must consult at least two members of the local advisory panel appointed
for this purpose by the Regional Hospital Board, as to the experience of the applicant.
At the end of the year nine doctors were listed as approved by the Council, for this purpose.
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