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HEROIN ADDICTS
The Council approved in principle the recommendation of the London Boroughs Association
that a Joint Board be set up for the purpose of providing and maintaining hostels for the
rehabilitation and after-care of heroin addicts. Each borough would be represented on the
Board and all London Boroughs would contribute to the costs.
BLIND AND PARTIALLY SIGHTED PERSONS
For the purpose of the Council's scheme for providing welfare services under the National
Assistance Act 1948 for the blind and partially sighted, it is necessary to arrange medical
examinations in connection with the certification of such persons. The department arranged 158
examinations by a consultant ophthalmologist during the year and certificates accepted from
other local authorities, hospitals and private ophthalmologists numbered 75. Transport to the
clinic for examination is arranged for these persons where necessary.
CHIROPODY
Foot clinics are held at 7 of the Health Department's establishments and at 3 other
premises. Treatment is provided for corns, callosities and malformed nails; advice is given on
shoe fitting, foot hygiene and exercises. A total of 38 sessions are held each week by one
full-time and nine part-time chiropodists. For those unable to attend clinics, six of the
chiropodists visit their homes to give treatment: Treatment is free to old persons, to those on
retirement pensions, expectant mothers, schoolchildren and the physically handicapped. When
such patients can be taken to clinics arrangements were begun this year to provide transport
for them, a total of 81 patients being transported during the year.
The average time between clinic appointments is 8 weeks and 9 weeks between domiciliary
treatments.
In addition a chiropody service is provided by the Welfare Department of the Council for
residents of old people's homes, and I am indebted to the Chief Welfare Officer for the
information on this service provided by him and included in the statistics on page 97.
HOME BATHING
Aged persons who are bedfast or homebound are given bed baths and, where the person is
sufficiently agile, complete baths in their own homes by the Council's bathing attendants. If
the dwelling is without a bath, a 'bungalow' bath is taken to the premises, together with hot
water in insulated containers. This expanding service necessitated the engagement of additional
bathing attendants this year. (Statistics on page 100).
HOME HELP SERVICE
Home helps are provided under Section 29, National Health Service Act 1946, to undertake
domestic work in homes during emergencies such as illness or confinements, and to assist aged
persons who are unable to fend unaided for themselves. Increasingly the service is attending
to the demands of the latter category (87%) understandably because of the growing number of
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