London's Pulse: Medical Officer of Health reports 1848-1972
View report page
Hints from the Health Department. Leaflet from the archive of the Society of Medical Officers of Health. Credit: Wellcome Collection, London
London County Council 1957
[Report of the Medical Officer of Health for London County Council]
This page requires JavaScript
PREVENTION OF ILLNESS : CARE AND AFTER-CARE
Foot clinics 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 |
| 1956 | 7,362 | 170,855 | 41.8 |
| 1957 | 8,149 | 166,987 | 44.2 |
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.
Recuperative holidays
The total decline in demand for recuperative holidays was far less marked in 1957
than in recent years and there was a slight increase in the number of children sent for
holidays.
Admissions to recuperative holiday homes
| Years | Unaccompanied children | Accompanied children | Expectant and nursing mothers | Other adults | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 5 years | School children | |||||
| 1954 | 486 | 3,404 | 424 | 197 | 2,954 | 7,465 |
| 1955 | 403 | 2,803 | 405 | 153 | 2,784 | 6,548 |
| 1956 | 278 | 2,793 | 373 | 141 | 2,590 | 6,175 |
| 1957 | 294 | 2,731 | 487 | 138 | 2,510 | 6,160 |
The total includes 38 persons sent away under arrangements introduced in 1957 to
provide holidays for parents when considered necessary to prevent mental or physical
breakdown which might lead to the breaking up of the family or to neglect or illtreatment
of the children. Hitherto adults had only been eligible for recuperative
holidays if they were recovering from an illness.
During the year the Council accepted an offer to lease a large home at Bognor
Regis and this will replace two establishments of which the Council has sole use at
Aldeburgh and Deal. The new home is due to open in October, 1958.
81