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CHIROPODY SERVICE
Mr B Dalton, MChS SRCh MRSH, Chief Chiropodist
At the six Chiropody clinics maintained by the Council the number
of persons regularly attending increased by nearly 20% to 7,572.
These people attend nearly four times annually. The proportion of
males to females is 1:4.
In the last year there has been a 15% increase in the number of
sessions, totalling 5,416.
The provision of appliances is now arranged from Sangley Road, where
last year 190 were made. Patients often require the use of special
techniques and equipment; 168 such treatments were provided at
Amersham Road.
The number of handicapped persons attending still continues to
strain the limited transport facilities available. The average
appointment interval of over 16 weeks is still far too long for these
persons. 628 patients were transported to the clinics, under three
times during the year. 1,266 domiciliary visits were made to 390
elderly persons in the postal districts of SE 4, 8, 14, 15 and 16;
154 such visits were made to 32 persons of under pension age
throughout the Borough, 40% of whom suffer from Multiple Sclerosis.
254 'once only' domiciliary visits were made to persons awaiting
the transport service.
An additional session has been commenced at Lewisham Hospital. The
Deptford Central Methodist Mission have now appointed a chiropodist
and visits by the Council's Chiropodists have also been made to
Brook Lane Medical Mission.
A paper on the various types of Verrucae encountered clinically has
been published and a follow-up paper is in hand. Two talks were
given on foot health, one to an over 60's club and the other to a
young mothers' club.
Under the Council's plan for sponsored training, two students are
at present attending college, and applications have been received
to attend next year.
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