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PREVENTION OF ILLNESS, CARE AND AFTER-CARE
Chiropody Service
Our Chiropody Service is greatly appreciated, particularly by the
old folk, and during the year 11,585 attendances were made.
We are very fortunate in having the services of a domiciliary
chiropodist who gives treatment in the patient's own home, and also
visits Mayes brook Old People's Home to help the patients there to
avoid foot troubles.
Chiropody treatment of school children is also done and 342
treatments were given.
Parents are encouraged to try to influence their children in
their choice of shoes and socks which do not harm the feet, but this
appears to be a losing battle! Our Public Health staff continue,
however, to try to promote the wearing of sensible shoes.
The following warning, given by the Society of Chiropodists
should be of interest to all parents: "Don't let children wear stretchnylon
socks". It is suggested that whereas these may be useful
convenient for adults, so far as young folk are concerned" "reaction
being equal and opposite, as the foot stretches the sock, so the
sock,compresses the foot, especially the toes".
It is a well-known fact in medical and interested circles the
socks and stockings that are too short are even more dangerous. than
shoes because the fact of the comparative softness of the former
makes the damage they do less immediately noticeable.
During the latter part of 1963, we started a "detection of
diabetes" project among the housebound who were eligible for
domiciliary chiropody. I am confident that by this means, some undetected
cases of diabetes may come to light.
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