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89
Dental service
A dental service for expectant and nursing mothers and for preschool
children is provided in conjunction with the school dental
service. During the year there was a total of 671 visits by preschool
children during which 686 fillings were provided and 51 visits
by mothers, 53 fillings being provided. A combined total of 262
courses of treatment were completed.
Chiropody service
A. E. Trenter, M.Ch.S., S.R.Ch., M.R.S.H.—Chief Chiropodist.
Chiropody services are available to expectant and nursing
mothers, schoolchildren, the physically handicapped and persons
of pensionable age, treatment being available at twelve clinics in
various parts of the Borough. The service is also available in nine
homes for old people run by the Council, eight voluntary service
homes, three private homes, one nursing home and in the surgeries
of private chiropodists acting on behalf of the Council; and last
but not least there is an extensive domiciliary service for those
patients who are housebound. In cases where patients are able to
walk but are unable to reach the clinic by themselves, transport
may be provided.
The chiropody service continues to play a major role in keeping
the elderly and handicapped mobile which is vital to their health
and welfare. The growing realisation of the basic relationship
between foot care and total health has produced increasing demand
for the service and I am pleased to report that the continued
expansion of the chiropody service has enabled us to cope with
the increase. As the feet often show symptoms of other disorders,
the chiropody service provides an increased diagnostic
programme which assists in early disease detection.
During the year, three Senior Chiropodists and two additional
sessional chiropodists were appointed. The staff at the end of the
year numbered four Senior Chiropodists and twenty sessional
chiropodists working directly or indirectly under the supervision
of the Chief Chiropodist.
At the beginning of the year the Penfold Day Centre was opened.
This building incorporated a purpose-built chiropody surgery.
Although primarily this facility was for people attending the day
centre, arrangements were made whereby the patients who attended
the Fairfield Clinic were transferred to the Penfold Day Centre
and the chiropody clinic at Fairfield Street was discontinued.
There have been increasing numbers of requests during 1971
for talks and films on foot health to be arranged in centres throughout
the Borough. I should particularly like to stress the importance
of talks to mothers and children in order that ways of safeguarding
the health of the feet can be discussed. Foot health education must
be stepped up in the schools if the children of today are to escape
the painful deformities that are so common in later life.