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CHIROPODY SERVICE
Mr. B. Da/ton, M.Ch.S., S.R.Ch., M.R.S.H., Chief Chiropodist
The Council maintains six chiropody surgeries in the Borough and employs 1 chief,
3 full-time and 17 part-time chiropodists. This force serves the 282,080 population.
The average appointment interval is 12 weeks. 6,489 persons or 2.3% (approx,)
of residents regularly attend the chiropody surgeries on average four times annually.
A total of 4,373 (4,595) sessions was worked during the year; full-time staff
working 2,427 (2,397) sessions and part-time staff working 1,946 (2,198) sessions.
This gives an overall average of 85 (88) sessions per week throughout the year.
Treatments numbering 1,703 (1,547) were given to 542 (528) elderly, infirm or
handicapped persons transported to the various surgeries; the average appointment
interval for this service is 16 (15) weeks. Domiciliary visits totalling 31 (25) were
made to 13 housebound persons of under pensionable age. Satisfactory appliances
were completed for 348 (282) persons at Amersham Road surgery. Some 1,288
treatments were given to patients requiring special treatment, using special
techniques and equipment which it would not be economic to have generally available.
Under the Council's plan for sponsored chiropody training two students are
at present attending college. Two chiropody surgeries have commenced during the
year, one at Lind Health Centre, Oxestalls Road, S.E.8, and the other at Downham
Health Centre, Churchdown, Bromley, Kent. Contact has been maintained with
Deptford Central Methodist Mission and Brook Lane Medical Mission. Two
talks were given during the year.
A pilot investigation into an assessment of optimum methods of treatment for
verrucae, using different chemicals, was launched at the beginning of the year.
The project was twofold: 1. to record the optimum method of treatment, using the
well-known remedies; 2. to explore more thoroughly optimum methods, using
little-known or newer treatments.
It very soon became evident that there were more clinical types of verrucae than
had been realised hitherto, and different types required considerable variation in
the mode of application of the same chemical.
In view of this, the initial brief of the investigation was modified in order to catalogue
and describe accurately the clinical appearance of the various types encountered,
to which reference would be made subsequently.
For the purpose of this investigation and for the sake of simplicity, viral infection
as a major causative agent was assumed. Age of peak incidence was found to be
somewhat earlier than previous surveys by others revealed. The 4 : 1 female to male
incidence ratio was confirmed. A lengthy incubation period was also noticed. It
is proposed to report, in the following year, the results of this initial cataloguing.