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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 who cannot be
left at home are also catered for under this scheme. A basic charge is made, 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.

Of the 92 adults 17 were psychiatric cases.
The City Council is indebted to the proprietors of the various establishments used for these
holidays for their assistance.
CHIROPODY SERVICE
A chiropody service is made available under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act, 1946
for the elderly, physically handicapped, expectant mothers and children. At the commencement of
1968 this service was provided both directly by the City Council and by the City of Westminster
Old People's Welfare Association on behalf of the City Council, but on 1st April, 1968, at the
request of the Association, the service was integrated under Health Department control. It continues
to be provided at fully equipped clinics situated in Health Department establishments and in the
Association's accommodation. Arrangements are made for domiciliary treatment or for patients
to receive their treatment at the surgeries of three private chiropodists. Further, by arrangement with
the Director of Welfare a clinic at the Welfare Centre for the Handicapped at 10 Warwick Row,
S.W.1., provides a service for persons who normally attend the centre and other handicapped
people who are conveyed there in the Welfare Department's special coaches.
In addition to the amalgamation of the service under Health Department administration, the
City Council approved the appointment of a full-time Chief Chiropodist who took up her duties in
October, 1968. A surgery and office were equipped at the Bessborough Street Maternal and Child
Welfare Centre for her use; she divides her time between treatment of patients and general administration
of the service. The Health Committee also gave consideration to the small income received
from charges made to patients in relation to the cost of administrative and clerical work involved in
assessing their cost and decided to provide free service to all comers within the agreed categories.
During the year, the City Council relinquished accommodation used for chiropody at the Inner
London Education Authority's premises, 40, Alderney Street, S.W.1., and patients attending there
were offered other facilities within the City Council's scheme. One of the former City of Westminster
Old People's Welfare Association clinics was situated in rented accommodation in Golden Square,
W.1., where the patients were required to negotiate steep and difficult steps for their treatment in
the basement. The service provided there was transferred on 1 st July to the Marshall Street Maternal
and Child Welfare Centre nearby. A room on the ground floor was made available and this rearrangement
has proved to be highly satisfactory.
It has long been considered that a number of patients receiving domiciliary service might well be
able to attend a clinic provided suitable transport were made available to convey them between
their homes and the centres. The duties associated with one of the Health Department's mini-buses,
used extensively for carrying the elderly to old people's clubs, have been extended to include