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44
RECUPERATIVE HOLIDAYS
Recuperative holidays, normally of two weeks duration, are arranged for adults who have been
suffering from a recent illness 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, mothers with babies, or children under five years are also
catered for under this scheme. A basic charge is made to patients, but if they are unable to afford
this, an assessment is made and patients are charged according to means. Recommendations
for recuperative holidays for school children are referred to the Inner London Education Authority
who bear the cost.

CHIROPODY SERVICE
A chiropody sen/ice is made available under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946,
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.
The clinic opened in 1966 at the Welfare Centre for the Handicapped, 10, Warwick Row, S.W.1
by arrangement with the Director of Welfare, continues to provide a valuable service for persons
who normally attend the centre, and other handicapped people who are conveyed there in the
Welfare Department's special coaches.
At the end of the year, the City Council was actively considering a request from the City of
Westminster Old People's Welfare Association that the Council should take over the direct
administration of the chiropody service run by the Association.
At 31 st December, 1967, eight part-time chiropodists were employed by the City Council, working
25 sessions weekly; and eight part-time by the Association, serving 42 sessions a week, of which
28 were domiciliary.
Details of the number of treatments undertaken in 1967 by the City Council's chiropodists and
by the City of Westminster Old People's Welfare Association are set out in Table 41, page 86.
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 Westminster 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, these respectively
serving areas corresponding to the former City of Westminster and the Boroughs of St. Marylebone
and Paddington. A Home Help Organiser is in charge at the City Hall, and a second Organiser
stationed at the Paddington office controls both the Paddington and St. Marylebone offices.
Each of the three offices has an Assistant Home Help Organiser and clerical staff. The majority
of requests for home help service come from old persons, but home helps are also employed in
families with young children when mother is ill, confined, or in hospital. In such circumstances,
a home help may be employed to prevent admission of children to care. In addition, specially
trained home helps are used in the rehabilitation of problem families. By guidance, example
and advice, these home helps play an important part in encouraging parents to improve their
housekeeping and domestic affairs.