London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
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Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1955
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
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PREVENTION OF ILLNESS: CARE AND AFTER-CARE
Foot clinics
As reported in previous years, the chiropody service is generally inadequate to meet
the demands upon it and is very unevenly distributed. In 1952 and 1954 the Council
sought the approval of the Minister of Health to an expansion of the service but he
was unable to agree to the Council's proposals. In December, 1955, however, the Council
decided to make further representations and arrangements were made to send a deputation
to the Minister early in 1956.
The following are particulars of new cases and attendances :
| Year | New cases | Attendances | Staff at the end of the year (in terms of whole units) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 9,446 | 129,682 | 35 |
| 1950 | 10,165 | 153,687 | 44 |
| 1951 | 10,348 | 162,163 | 43.5 |
| 1952 | 10,828 | 169,598 | 43.2 |
| 1953 | 11,374 | 180,588 | 43.5 |
| 1954 | 10,143 | 185,614 | 44.8 |
| 1955 | 9,089 | 184,628 | 43.8 |
The majority of treatments provided at the clinics were for superficial excrescences
(corns, callosities, etc.), and malformed nails. Advice was given on shoe fitting, foot
hygiene and exercises.
With the exception of 1954, when there was an increase in recommendations for schoolchildren and a slight increase in respect of expectant and nursing mothers, the demand for recuperative holidays has declined since 1950. The admission figures for 1955 as compared with the previous three years were :
| Year | Unaccompanied children | Accompanied children | Expectant and nursing mothers | Other adults | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | School children | |||||
| 1952 | 686 | 3,507 | 352 | 190 | 3,308 | 8,043 |
| 1953 | 550 | 2,840 | 446 | 194 | 3,120 | 7,150 |
| 1954 | 486 | 3,404 | 424 | 197 | 2,954 | 7,465 |
| 1955 | 403 | 2,803 | 405 | 153 | 2,784 | 6,548 |
Although there was a fall in recommendations for unaccompanied children, it was
possible to maintain a high level of admissions throughout the year at the Council's
recuperative holiday home at Littlehampton (accommodation for 36 children 3-8 years);
at a seaside hotel used under the Council's Private Hotel Scheme (accommodation for
30 children 7-15 years) and at the Women's Voluntary Service's Home at Aldeburgh
(accommodation for 24 children 3.11 years). In respect of the last named the Council
contributed 90 per cent, of approved expenditure.
The placing of mothers who are accompanied by their babies and sometimes also
by toddlers, in small private homes rather than in the larger type of recuperative holiday
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