London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972

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City of Westminster 1971

[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for Westminster, City of]

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59
The total number of applications received during 1971 was 278 (276 in 1970) of which 175 received
holidays. The remaining 103 were abortive due largely to the patients not taking up offers made to them, to
appropriate accommodation not being available or to the persons recommended not being considered
suitable or not coming within the scheme.

The 175 holidays were arranged for:—

19711970
Expectant and nursing mothers35
Tuberculous adults...............Nil5
Other adults..................7665
Accompanied children.............1211
Unaccompanied children under 5 years ....112
School children ................8378
175176

Of the "other adults" 6 were psychiatric cases.
Recipients of the holidays are accommodated in voluntary or private homes and in ordinary boarding
houses. Homes for special types of patients, for example the more elderly, psychiatrics and mothers and
babies, are extremely limited.
It is possible however to arrange some holidays in a few homes normally used by hospitals for
convalescent patients and this proved to be a great help in placing some of the more elderly patients.
Generally the overall number of suitable homes remains the same but the increasing demands for places by
all local authorities makes for greater difficulty each year in finding appropriate vacancies.
The City Council is most appreciative of the co-operation, assistance and care given by the proprietors of
the various homes who provide the recuperative holidays for Westminster residents. There is no doubt that
these holidays are of great benefit to the recipients; not only do they benefit by rest, fresh air and good
food but they can relax in congenial and happy surroundings.
BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS
Services for registered blind and partially sighted persons are provided under the provisions of the
National Assistance Act 1948 by the City Council's Social Services Department. On behalf of that
department the Health Department during 1971 carried out 125 examinations (127 in 1970) of such
persons in respect of certification under the Act. Of these 37 were new cases and 88 were re-examinations.
In addition 44 (56) certificates were received from hospitals and other local authorities.
CHIROPODY SERVICES
The chiropody service is provided under Section 28 of the National Health Service Act 1946 and
treatment is made available to the elderly, handicapped persons, expectant mothers and children.
During 1971 the service was operated by a Chief Chiropodist, two Senior Chiropodists and eleven
sessional chiropodists providing treatment in eleven centres in the City Council area, nine residential homes
for the elderly situated both in the City and in outlying boroughs and at a convent in Paddington. In
addition three private chiropodists provided treatments on a fee per treatment basis in their own surgeries,
and on a similar financial arrangement, seven private chiropodists undertook treatments of housebound
patients. During the year a directly run domiciliary service was introduced into the Paddington and
Westminster areas and the full time chiropodists were giving up to 27 treatments each week at patients'
homes.
The City Council also has an amicable arrangement with the Chelsea School of Chiropody, Samford
Street, N.W.8., whereby chiropody treatment is provided to approximately 25 patients each week, the
patients being conveyed to and from the school by City Council Transport. The Medical Officer of Health
would take the opportunity to express his appreciation of the assistance given by the Principal and his staff.