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37
BOARDING OUT OF T.B. CONTACTS
Arrangements are made by the Health Department in liaison with the Chest Physicians and the
Children's Department, for the boarding out of children whose parents are required to undergo
hospital treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis and who are unable to make arrangements for the
care of their children. Boarding out is also arranged where necessary for segregation during B.C.G.
vaccination.
During 1965, four children from one family were boarded out under this scheme.
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAYS
Recuperative holidays, normally of two weeks duration, are arranged for adults who have been
suffering from a medical condition and who, although not requiring special medical and nursing
care provided at a convalescent home, would benefit by rest, fresh air and good food at a Recuperative
Holiday Home. Expectant mothers and mothers with babies or children under five years are also
catered for under this scheme. A small basic charge is made to the patient, but if they are unable
to afford this, an assessment is made according to their means. Recommendations for recuperative
holidays for schoolchildren are referred to the Inner London Education Authority who bear the
cost.
During 1965, the following admissions to recuperative holiday homes were arranged:—
Expectant and Nursing Mothers 1
Tuberculosis 4 adults and *4 child contacts under 5 years
Other Adults 82
Psychiatric 16
Accompanied children 15
Unaccompanied children under 5 years 6 (included 4 marked *)
School children 64
CHIROPODY SERVICE
The chiropody service, provided under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, is
available for the elderly, physically handicapped, expectant mothers and children. This is provided
at fully equipped clinics in Health Department establishments in various parts of the City and is
augmented, largely for the elderly, on behalf of the City Council by the City of Westminster Old
People's Welfare Association who operate at their own clinics and by home visiting. Arrangements
are also made by the Association for suitable patients to receive treatment at two of their part-time
chiropodists' surgeries.
During the year the Health Department's establishment of chiropodists was increased to three
full-time units (30 sessions per week) and in December 1965, two additional sessions were opened
at the Maternal and Child Welfare Centre, Marsham Street, S.W.1., to help reduce the waiting time
for initial and subsequent appointments for patients in the southern part of Westminster. Plans
were in hand at the end of the year for expanding the service by opening a special clinic for the
handicapped, increasing the number of sessions at established centres and by providing further domiciliary
facilities.
On 31st December, 1965, one full-time and six part-time chiropodists were employed by the City
Council working 23 sessions weekly; and eight part-time by the City of Westminster Old People's
Welfare Association, serving 13 sessions per week, in addition to eight sessions undertaken by private
chiropodists.
Details of the number of treatments undertaken in 1965 by the City Council's chiropodists and by
the City of Westminster Old People's Welfare Association are set out in Table 39, page 70.
HOME HELP SERVICE
Under Section 29 of the National Health Service Act, 1946, Home Help service is provided when
such assistance is required by reason of infirmity, ill health or age of a member of a household, for
which a charge, abatable in necessitous cases, is made.
The service in the City is administered from three offices situated at the City Hall, St. Marylebone
Town Hall, and the Paddington office at 313/319 Harrow Road, W.9., each being responsible for the
areas covered by the former City of Westminster and the Boroughs of St. Marylebone and Paddington
respectively. A Home Help Organizer is in charge at the City Hall, and a second Organizer stationed
at the Paddington office controls both the Paddington and St. Marylebone offices. Each of the three
offices has an Assistant Home Help Organizer and clerical staff.
Two hundred and thirty (156 full-time equivalent) Home Helps are employed throughout the City.
Recruitment difficulties abound in the more fashionable areas of Westminster, where the nationally
agreed hourly rate of pay for Home Helps is considerably lower than that offered by local residents.