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44
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 the surgeries of three
private chiropodists.
In order to provide a special service for the handicapped, a clinic was opened in April at the Welfare
Centre for the Handicapped, 10 Warwick Row, S.W.1. by arrangement with the Director of Welfare.
This has proved to be of considerable value, catering for persons who normally attend the centre
and other handicapped people who are conveyed there in the Welfare Department's special coaches.
To cope with increased demand, additional sessions were opened at existing City Council
clinics, at the City of Westminster Health Society's centre at Marsham Street, and at those run by
the City of Westminster Old People's Welfare Association. By the end of the year one full-time
and seven part-time chiropodists were employed by the City Council working 30 sessions weekly;
and eight part-time by the Association, serving 40 sessions a week, 27 of which were domiciliary.
Details of the number of treatments undertaken in 1966 by the City Council's chiropodists and by
the City of Westminster Old People's Welfare Association are set out in Table 41, page 83.
MENTAL HEALTH
(Mrs. R. S. G. Paterson, Principal Mental Health Social Worker)
A brief summary of the activities of the mental health section follows this report from which it will
be seen that the general work for the mentally disordered for whom the City is responsible, has
continued along customary lines, and in most spheres has been expanded, but many of the day-to-day
facilities for out patients are still only available in neighbouring boroughs and once again the City
wishes to express its thanks to those Authorities who afford it so much help. Nevertheless, it is the
continuing aim of the City to build up its own services and it is encouraging to report that during
the past year a very real start has been made.
The success of any local Authority's efforts to provide community care for the mentally disordered
is dependent largely on the support and toleration that their neighbours and fellow citizens are
prepared to give, and this support has been generously offered in the development of new projects.
Beauchamp Lodge Settlement approached the City Council to discuss the formation of a club for
the mentally sick. It was agreed that there were patients who needed a simple friendly club; they
were perhaps unable to cope with the more arduous demands of a rehabilitation centre, and it
was agreed that an afternoon club, now known as the Tuesday Club, should be formed. A large
room at the Settlement was made available and the City Council helped financially with the simple
redecoration undertaken by voluntary helpers and with the provision of comfortable chairs. The
running of the Club is shared by the Settlement staff, voluntary workers and the City's mental
health social workers, one senior member of these acting as adviser on admissions and giving very
considerable support. The Club developed slowly but has now achieved great success. There is
a firmly established membership, mostly made up of people who have little or no other contact with
the world. It is difficult to realise their isolation but this may be understood when one patient, who
was going on holiday, said she would now have someone to whom she could send a postcard.
Simple outings have been organised, including a trip on the Settlement barge, and through the
good offices of a commerical organisation, a coach ride at Christmas was provided to see the West
End lights followed by a lavish tea.
There will be no spectacular achievements arising from the provision of the Tuesday Club, no
impressing statistics will be forthcoming, the only criteria of value that can be put forward is that
the Tuesday Club members come so regularly that it has been necessary, in order to retain its
intimate atmosphere, to open another club, the Thursday Club, now being run on similar lines.
The Terrace Day Centre opened on the 1 st November, 1966. The Institute of Social Psychiatry's
long established centre at Blackfriars was transferred there and the City is most fortunate that its
first centre for the rehabilitation of the mentally ill should be in the hands of the extremely experienced
staff from Blackfriars, and through this many of the usual growing pains have been avoided.
Co-operation at all levels has been easy and pleasant and the centre is now thoroughly integrated
into the City's mental health services. A large early Victorian house has been adapted for the
purpose; the rooms are high, bright and comfortable. There was still much work to be done after
the 1st November, and the centre patients and staff did a great deal to provide finishing touches
and additional amenities.