London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London

Kensington and Chelsea 1971

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Kensington & Chelsea Borough]

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32
The cost of adaptation works continues to increase and averaged £758 for the work
on the four applications made. The estimated cost of work in connection with the
application in 1970 was £520 but the actual cost proved to be £635.
This Council has been quite willing to arrange for rehousing, to carry out
adaptations and pay for them in respect of those patients who cannot afford to do so.
CHIROPODY
There has again been a substantial increase in the number of treatments given,
although the number of persons treated at Council clinics has dropped. This indicates that
patients have been given treatment more frequently thus enhancing the quality of service. It
is hoped that this trend will be maintained.
The large number of women who need chiropody treatment as compared to men
seems to suggest that some form of advice on the care of the feet and correct footwear
should be given to young women and girls, preferably at school. As a long-term measure the
referral of more children of the age group 5-14 years to Council clinics whenever foot
abnormalities are detected at school medical examinations would be welcomed.

Table: Details of attendances, etc., are as follows:—

Details of attendances, etc., are as follows:—

Total number of Chiropodist sessions held at Council clinics2,795(2,380)
Number of persons attending Council clinics2,690(2,864)
Analysis by age-groups of attendances at Council clinics:
Children — Under 53(1)
5—14 years150(153)
Expectant mothers2(1)
Males - 15 to 64 years1,086(1,168)
65 years and over2,117(1,684)
Females — 15 to 59 years3,479(3,537)
60 years and over10,401(7,996)
Total attendance at Council clinics17,233(14,540)
Number of patients referred to private Chiropodist23(48)
Number of treatments given by private Chiropodist986(1,018)

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(Note — Included in above are 19 handicapped persons under 65 who made 78 attendances.)
LOAN OF HOME NURSING EQUIPMENT
Under Section 12 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968, the Council
provide on loan articles necessary for the efficient nursing of patients in their own homes.
Such equipment is normally lent only in instances where the patient is under active medical
treatment; the equipment remains with the patient as long as the medical need exists and no
charge is made for this service.
A supplementary service is provided by the British Red Cross Society. During the
year, the Council gave this Society a grant of £125 towards this work.
The demand for all types of equipment has increased as indicated by the 556 issues
made by the Council, and 1,283 by the British Red Cross Society, as compared with 633
and 826 respectively during 1970. The demand for incontinence pads has again increased
although the number of patients has decreased to 210 (232 in 1970).