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CHIROPODY SERVICE
Mr. B. Dalton, M.Ch.S., S.R.Ch., M.R.S.H., Chief Chiropodist
The Council maintains six chiropody surgeries within the Borough, and employs
one chief, four full-time and fourteen part-time chiropodists. 6,508 persons, representing
2.35 per cent, of the population regularly attend the various surgeries on
average four times annually, the appointment interval being 12-13 weeks. The proportion
of males to female attendances was 1 : 4 (1 : 4). The percentage of attendances
by schoolchildren was 9 per cent. (6-5 per cent.).
A total of 4,623 (4,373) sessions was worked during the year; full-time staff
averaging 2,170 (2,427) sessions and part-time staff 2,543 (1,946). This gives an
overall average of 89 (85) sessions per week throughout the year.
1,281 (1,703) treatments were given to 524 (542) elderly, infirm or handicapped
persons transported to the various surgeries on average just over twice per annum.
91 (31) domiciliary visits were made to 19 (13) housebound persons of under pensionable
age. 114 elderly housebound persons were given 398 domiciliary treatments
during the year in the postal district S.E.4. Satisfactory appliances were made for
261 (348) persons, some 200 sessions being allocated throughout the year for this
work. 1,118 (1,288) treatments were given to 304 patients requiring special techniques
and treatment, and special equipment at Amersham Road. Under the Council's
plan for sponsored chiropody training, one student having qualified has taken up
post, and a further two are at present in college. Plans for improvements at Sangley
Road have at last been implemented.
Following the verruca project during last year, seven definite clinical types of the
growth were named and described, details of which will be published in the form
of a paper during the coming year. These descriptions and names will be referred
to in a cataloguing of the optimum programmes of treatment using known and
new remedies.