View report page

PREVENTION OF ILLNESS: CARE AND AFTER-CARE
Chiropody
In 1948 the London County Council took over 26 foot clinics established by the
metropolitan borough councils; the service was, however, unevenly distributed over the
county area. The Minister of Health agreed to the service being continued by the Council
at that level pending a decision as to whether chiropody was an appropriate form of
treatment for provision by local health authorities. Despite repeated representations from
the Council, the Minister was unable to agree to any extension of the service. The Cope
Committee recommended in 1951 that local health authorities should be empowered to
provide chiropody under the National Health Service Act, but the Minister stated that
an extension of this service was not possible in the then existing financial circumstances.
In 1956, however, the Minister agreed to a more even geographical allocation of existing
sessions and this was carried out. In 1959 the Minister sanctioned the extension of
chiropody services and the Council immediately approved an increase of 100 sessions a
week, pending a full review of the needs in the county. Unfortunately it was not possible
fully to implement the increase owing to lack of chiropodists. Only recently, following the
setting up of the Register of Chiropodists, has it appeared that sufficient staff might be
available.
Services provided by the Council have been augmented since 1959 by services provided
by various voluntary organisations, usually Old People's Welfare Associations, who
provide chiropody services for the elderly. The Council pays these organisations 100
per cent, deficiency grants for the services provided. In 1964 grants were made to 32 such
organisations.